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Cameron campaigns in Glasgow East Cameron focuses on 'social decay'
(1 day later)
Conservative leader David Cameron is to join his party's campaign in the Glasgow East by-election later. Conservative leader David Cameron has highlighted what he called Labour's "broken society" while campaigning in the Glasgow East by-election.
His visit comes as Labour, who are defending the seat, are expected to finally choose their candidate. Mr Cameron and former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith joined candidate Davena Rankin in the constituency on Monday.
Holyrood MSP Margaret Curran has been drafted in to fight the seat after the party's previous favourite George Ryan dropped out of the 24 July poll. Labour, which has yet to choose a candidate, said it was getting people off benefits and into work.
Candidates for the Tories, the SNP and the Lib Dems have been campaigning in the constituency all weekend. The SNP campaign launched with a call for action on rising energy costs. The Lib Dem campaign launches on Tuesday.
Mr Cameron will tour Glasgow East with former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith. The 24 July by-election was triggered by Labour MP David Marshall's resignation on health grounds.
He said the Tories were a "positive" alternative to rewarding the "rudderless" Labour Party or giving the Nationalists another chance to further their agenda of "breaking up Britain". During his campaign visit, Mr Cameron said it was the Conservative's mission "to heal the wounds of poverty, crime, social disorder and deprivation".
'Treated like fools' He said social breakdown in Glasgow East was simply an "extreme version" of what could be seen elsewhere and highlighted the high level of welfare dependency and knife crime.
Mr Cameron said: "Davena Rankin would be a first class and full-time MP, in contrast to Labour's latest favoured candidate who is 5th choice and wants to be a part-time MP. Whether it is knife crime or any other symptom of our broken society, we will repair the damage by treating not just the symptoms, but the causes too David CameronConservative leader class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7490596.stm">In full: Glasgow East candidates "This is the broken society by-election," said Mr Cameron.
"Labour is treating the voters of Glasgow East like fools." "It comes in a place where the people are shouting 'Gordon Brown, wasn't Labour supposed to end this degrading poverty?'.
Scotland Office Minister David Cairns MP said: "The Tories devastated the east end of Glasgow in the 1980s." "It comes at a time when the country is asking 'What is going on with the knife crime and violence on our streets?'."
He added that the Tories also voted against Labour measures to help people such as the minimum wage, tax credits and pension credits. Mr Cameron said the Conservatives had a clear plan to foster social cohesion while they attempted to rebuild the economy and improve the NHS.
The Glasgow East by-election was sparked by the resignation on health grounds of David Marshall, who had a majority of more than 13,500. "We can and will bring hope and aspiration to places where there is resignation and despair," he said.
Margaret Curran is expected to be the Labour candidate "Whether it is knife crime or any other symptom of our broken society, we will repair the damage by treating not just the symptoms, but the causes too."
Labour had hoped to select local councillor George Ryan as its candidate on Friday night but he failed to turn up for the meeting.
He pulled out of the contest to prevent "pressures" on his family life.
Former Scottish cabinet minister Margaret Curran, currently a Glasgow MSP, then announced she was adding her name to the shortlist.
A final decision on the candidate is expected to be taken on Monday evening.
However, the confusion will do little to raise the party's morale after heavy by-election losses in Crewe and Henley, disastrous poll ratings, and the resignation of its leader in Scotland, Wendy Alexander.
Political opponents claimed Labour was in "meltdown".
Alex Salmond, Scotland's first minister, said the SNP was off to a "flying start" after Labour's "lost weekend".