Labour sets sights on key constituencies

LABOUR has set its sights on clawing back some of its central Scotland heartlands amid a rise in confidence ahead of polls closing.

Party staffers have said they are almost certain they will keep hold of Glasgow North East, where Labour’s Paul Sweeney has a majority of 242, despite the latest Yougov poll indicating it will fall to the SNP.

But insiders are also talking up their chances of seizing back key marginals such as Glasgow South West, where the SNP has a majority of just 60.

Jeremy Corbyn travelled to the constituency to kick off his last day of campaigning yesterday with an early morning rally in Govan.

He told activists: “In this city of Glasgow, which has some of the poorest people in the UK, which has wards that contain the lowest life expectancy anywhere across the country – they need an end to austerity.

“They need a UK Government that will invest all across the country and give real hope and real security to people. That is the offer that Labour makes.”

The Labour leader also referenced the radical history of Red Clydeside in a speech which put Boris Johnson’s trustworthiness centre stage.

Yougov showed Labour losing two of its seven seats in Scotland to the SNP, including Mr Sweeney’s constituency.

But Labour insiders insisted this is not the picture they are seeing, and pointed to potential gains in areas including Glasgow East, where the SNP’S David Linden has a majority of just 75, and Motherwell and Wishaw.