Scottish party leaders pitch for election votes on first campaign weekend

Scottish Labour’s leader Anas Sarwar meanshile insisted his party was not interested in a deal with the SNP in order to gain power in the Commons.

He said they, along with the Tories, had been part of a “record of failure” and encouraged “divisive politics”.

He told a campaign event in Wishaw that Labour wanted to “pull the country together” on both sides of the border.

However, he did not rule out any potential deal with the Lib Dems should the vote result in a hung parliament.

He said: “Over the last 14 years, people have been frustrated, they wanted change.

“They haven’t thought Labour has been in a position to deliver it, but over the last three years, I have worked hard to change the Scottish Labour party so it is ready to serve again.

“We’ve been really clear. No ifs, no buts, no deals with the SNP. They have been part of the record of failure that people have seen here in Scotland.

“Keir [Starmer] has already said no deals with the SNP, we’re going flat out for a majority Labour government. What happens after the election, we will obviously have a look at.”