LABOUR leadership contender Anas Sarwar said he is parking his tanks on Nicola Sturgeon’s lawn and that he is campaigning to be the next Labour First Minister.

The Glasgow MSP said he does not want to be protesting society’s problems in opposition but defeating inequality as Scotland’s First Minister.

Mr Sarwar addressed a meeting in the city to formally launch his leadership campaign and targeted the SNP on health and poverty.

He said: “We have a choice to continue to divide, or to bring our party and our country together.

“I don’t want to be a Scottish Labour who just talks about fighting inequality, creating opportunity and building a fairer society. I want to deliver that equality, opportunity and fairness as the next First Minister of Scotland.”

The former party deputy leader said he would introduce an action plan for the NHS, set up a commission to end the gender pay gap and top up child benefit by £5 a week to help families and take children out of poverty.

He addressed the meeting in Gorbals Parish Church and said the venue was deliberate, being in Nicola Sturgeon’s Southside constituency.

He added: “Half of the children in this constituency are deprived. That is a national disgrace. And yet Nicola Sturgeon refuses to use the powers we have to help them.

“That is why here in the Gorbals, at the start of this campaign, we are parking our tanks on Nicola Sturgeon’s lawn. This campaign is not just about electing a Labour leader, it’s about electing the next Labour First Minister.”

Mr Sarwar has the support of fellow Glasgow MSPs including Pauline McNeill and others including former leader, Iain Gray and Jackie Baillie.

Mr Sarwar is vying with fellow MSP Richard Leonard to take over the post vacated by Kezia Dugdale last month.

Mr Leonard is addressing a meeting today at the City of Glasgow College setting out his vision of the future of Scottish Labour.

Mr Leonard has attracted support form the left of the party and is seen as being in tune with UK party leader, Jeremy Corbyn.

He has been backed by MPs including former leadership challenger, Neil Findlay and Monica Lennon and Glasgow North East MP, Paul Sweeney.