SNP MSP Anne Mclaughlin today said Labour's Willie Bain fluffed his first test in Glasgow North East as he failed to commit to protect frontline services, and showed up Labours knife crime policy as nothing more than a cheap headline.

Speaking after the first hustings of the campaign - for which no date has been set Ms McLaughlin said: "Where the SNP are taking positive steps for people in Glasgow North East with more bobbies on the beat and a crackdown on knives and gangs Labour are making empty promises.

"It seems Willie Bain thinks its right to lock up a 14 year old who has been bullied into carrying a knife or a carpenter who needs one for his job.

"As for protecting public services from the labour-tory cuts agenda Labour made no commitment to protect our frontline and still want to spend millions on an overbudget train line instead of investing in our communities.

"There is only one party offering a fresh start for this area and that's David Kerr and the SNP."