LABOUR’S candidate to stand in Glasgow East at the General Election said the voters were let down by the MP they elected just two years ago..

Party leader Kezia Dugdale joined Kate Watson who is looking to win back the seat that was lost to the SNP in 2015, when Natalie McGarry won.

Ms McGarry since has been suspended from the SNP after a police investigation into financial irregularities at campaign group Women for Independence led to her being charged with embezzlement.

She is not contesting the seat this time around and the SNP have still to select a new candidate.

Labour hope to capitalise on the charges against Ms McGarry which forced her to quit the SNP.

Ms Watson, a former director of operations with the Better Together campaign, said: “The last nationalist MP in Glasgow East let people down badly.

“This area needs an MP who will spend every day focused on standing up for working families and fighting cuts to our valued public services, not someone who will campaign for another divisive referendum.

“On 4 May in the council elections and on 8 June at the General Election people can vote Labour to send a strong message to the Nationalists that Glasgow East deserves better.”

The party leader and candidate visited the FARE community group in Easterhouse.

Ms Dugdale said: “The people of Glasgow East need a local champion, not someone who let them down like Natalie McGarry did.

“If people vote for Kate Watson she will spend every single day fighting for working families in Glasgow East, standing up for them in the House of Commons, and campaigning for investment in local communities.”

Meanwhile Nicola Sturgeon was campaigning in East Renfrewshire with MP, Kirsten Oswald who is looking to hold off a challenge from Labour and the Conservatives.

Ms Oswald took the seat from former Labour leader Jim Murphy. Labour have selected former Better Together and party strategist, Blair McDougall, to fight the seat.

The Conservatives have selected solicitor Paul Masterton as their candidate.

Ms Sturgeon warned voters that voting Tory in the General Election would be a vote for further austerity.

She said: “The first full week of the election has revealed the true cost of voting for the Tories at this election. From their defence of the rape clause to their failure to commit to fair pensions, and the slew of statistics outlining the consequences of Tory austerity, it’s clear that the Tories are failing Scotland and will continue to do so.”

She attacked the Party’s record in Government at Westminster and warned Scotland would suffer if the party is re-elected on June 8

Ms Sturgeon added: “The Tories found money to cut taxes for the rich in their budget, but everyone else is paying the price for their right-wing agenda. The truth is the more Tory MPs Westminster has, the heavier the price Scotland will pay.”