THE Greens have announced its list of candidates to contest the seven Glasgow seats at the General Election.

It is the first time the party has fielded candidates in every city seat for a Westminster election.

The move comes following a big increase in the party's membership since the referendum.

The candidates are Cass MacGregor in Glasgow Central, Kim Long in Glasgow East, Dr Martin Bartos in Glasgow North, Zara Kitson in Glasgow North East, Moira Crawford in Glasgow North West, Alastair Whitelaw in Glasgow South and Sean Templeton in Glasgow South West.

Green MSP and party co-convener, Patrick Harvie, said the number of green members in the city had increased tenfold since the referendum.

He said: "Last year there were around two hundred Greens in Glasgow, today there are two thousand. This full slate of candidates is testament to that progress. It is clear that the Green message of tackling poverty through a Living Wage of £10 an hour by 2020 and ending the austerity agenda is exactly the kind of politics people in Glasgow want. Whether it's putting the railways in public hands or defending the welfare state from Tory attacks, Greens will stand up for the interests of ordinary people."

Dr Bartos,a Glasgow city councillor said: "I'm delighted we're fielding seven talented candidates, to give every Glasgow citizen a chance to choose a positive alternative to business as usual Labour and SNP.

"Only the Greens consistently challenge the old Westminster politics for the privileged few.

"I'm looking forward to a campaign where the Greens put welfare and support of those in need at the forefront of thinking and where we put alternatives to austerity cuts at the heart of the debate. Our economy has to work for everyone not just a few bailed out bankers."