Sarwar comes to town and backs 'local champion'

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar took the party’s Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse by-election campaign to the streets of Hamilton town centre and around the constituency - including paying a visit to Hamilton Park Racecourse where he declared the contest “a two-horse race”.

- JUDITH TONNER

He led a host of senior party figures campaigning across the constituency in support of Labour candidate Davy Russell, attending a VE Day event in Larkhall accompanied by deputy Jackie Baillie and Scottish Secretary Ian Murray, who also visited stall holders at the Regent Centre market.

It followed Mr Russell's official campaign launch, beginning in his home area of Quarter and going on to visit Hillhouse, Burnbank, Larkhall Leisure Centre and Stonehouse Library on the same day and in which he told voters: “I've lived here all my life, I’m here to fight for you.”