In response to a statement by Labour by-election candidate Willie Bain in which he says that: "Religion should play no part in this by-election...it does not matter what religion or religious organisation a candidate is in.

I pledge never to make religion an issue in this campaign and hope nobody else does either", SNP Glasgow North East candidate David Kerr contrasted these remarks with the comment of Labour Justice Spokesperson Richard Baker MSP in the Sunday Times today: "There has been a lot of coverage about Opus Dei . . and I'm sure it will be a cause for people to have questions about Mr Kerr's views."

Mr Kerr said: "Modern Scotland and Scottish political parties encompass people of all faiths and none. My faith is a personal matter, and religion has no part to play in this or any other campaign.  The Labour candidate Willie Bain agrees with that, yet Labour's Justice Spokesperson has sought to make it an issue in the by-election - as indeed has the Tory Deputy Leader.  These Labour and Tory spokespeople have a lot of explaining to do about what they are actually saying.

"Labour are obviously in disarray, but that is no excuse for seeking to bring issues of religion into political campaigning.

"The London parties should cut out the nonsense, and focus on the real issues.  And Labour should call the by-election this week, instead of leaving Glasgow North East without parliamentary representation for five months."