Killen challenges Ferrier on who she wants as PM
Labour’s man takes election fight to the SNP
Rutherglen and Hamilton West’s Labour candidate has said the general election is a straight choice between a government led by Theresa May or Jeremy Corbyn.
Gerard Killen has now challenged his SNP opponent, Margaret Ferrier, on who she would rather see in Number 10.
With the nation set to go to the polls in two weeks, Labour has seen their manifesto gain support, although they still trail the Tories in the polls.
Strategists claim the Rutherglen and Hamilton West seat is winnable despite Ms Ferrier defending a huge majority.
Mr Killen said this week: “The reality of next month’s general election is that there will either be a Labour or a Tory government when voters wake up on June 9.
“The SNP have an abysmal track record of government in Scotland. In London, Margaret Ferrier has spent the last two years repeating the SNP’s campaign for independence.
“I’m appealing to voters from across the political spectrum: my focus will be on putting our public services first, not continuing to push for a second referendum.
“If you’d rather have a hard-working local MP than a nationalist who’ll let the Tories in the back door, vote Labour on June 8.”
But Ms Ferrier hit back yesterday, claiming Mr Killen had not backed his party leader in the past.
She said: “It’s simple maths - if there’s a majority of anti-Tory MPs then the Conservatives will be unable to form a government.
“The SNP will never support the Tories, although judging from the backroom deals with the Tories in councils in Aberdeen and North Lanarkshire I’m not sure the same could be said of Labour.
“On Twitter Mr Killen has shown no confidence in this party leader, saying it’s impossible to be leader of a party without the confidence or support of the parliamentary party… how can you lead a group of people when 80 per cent of them have no confidence in you?’ And that ‘he seems to relish the fight with his own side more than with Tories’.
“When the Rutherglen Labour branch backed Owen Smith as party leader last year, James Kelly said ‘Labour at this time needs a leader who is credible with the public’.
“Thanks to Labour’s unelectability across the UK we face an unfettered, out-ofcontrol Tory government - we know that the prime minister wants to silence opposition.
“If people want a strong opposition to the Tories, if they want MPs who will stand up for our country and stop the Tories doing whatever they want to Scotland, then the only party to support at this election is the SNP.”