Scots Ukip chief to run for party leader

0 James Kelly has pointed to a handful of marginal seats Labour was within 400 votes of winning. Labour won back Glasgow North East from the SNP two years after Nicola Sturgeon’s party swept the board and claimed all the seats in the city, and it was within 60 votes of taking Glasgow South West and 75 votes of winning Glasgow East.

In Airdrie and Shotts, the SNP’S majority over Labour was slashed to 195, while in Motherwell and Wishaw, Lanark and Hamilton East, and Inverclyde, the nationalists now have majorities of less than 400.

“Voters across the country turned out to send Nicola Sturgeon a message that Scotland doesn’t want a divisive second independence referendum,” Mr Kelly said.

“She should now get back to the day job of running our schools and hospitals.”

He continued: “In six seats, Labour is fewer than 400 votes behind the SNP, while many others are also in play. With SNP majorities slashed, Scottish Labour is in a position to make more gains and we will remain on an election footing for another vote over the summer.” Ukip’s Scottish leader David Coburn has announced he will run to replace Paul Nuttall in the party’s top job.

The MEP said he wanted to stop “single issue loonies” and had “had enough of pashmina sofa politics”.

But Mr Coburn indicated he would stand aside if former leader Nigel Farage put himself forward.

“I am announcing my candidacy for Ukip Leader this time to stop Entryists Diletantes and Single issue loonies i have had enough,” he tweeted.

“I have had enough of pashmina sofa politics pushed on 0 David Coburn wants to stop ‘single issue loonies’ ukip I want a return to the good old days.”

Mr Coburn has been condemned for his outspoken comments, including likening government minister Humza Yousaf to terrorist Abu Hamza.