Labour’s fears over ‘toxic’ Ed

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LABOUR leader Ed Miliband will this week begin his General Election campaign in Scotland – despite concerns among his MSPs that he could damage their chances of beating the SNP.

Mr Miliband will highlight his populist pledges to raise the minimum wage, end the bedroom tax, tackle youth unemployment and freeze energy prices.

But some senior Scottish Labour figures fear he is ‘toxic’ in Scotland.

Jim Murphy has been keen to distance Scottish Labour from its London HQ.

But Mr Miliband’s team yesterday confirmed he will come to Scotland this week and will also give a keynote speech at Scottish Labour’s one-day spring conference in Glasgow in March.

A spokesman said: ‘Ed is looking forward to campaigning in Scotland.

‘He spent more time campaigning in Scotland on the referendum than any other UK party leader. His poli- cies for a living wage, more homes, a jobs guarantee that tackles youth unemployment and an energy price cap are hugely popular in Scotland.’

Former Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont told Mr Miliband to stay out of Scotland during the final stages of the referendum campaign.

A source close to the Glasgow Pollok MSP said: ‘His visits to Scotland were not helpful. We had to recognise he was not a vote-winner.’