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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| SNP hopeful despite poll findings | SNP hopeful despite poll findings |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Scotland's first minister has insisted that the SNP are on course to win the Glasgow East by election, despite a poll giving Labour a 15-point lead. | |
| Alex Salmond said the same poll showed his party had doubled its support in the constituency since 2005. | Alex Salmond said the same poll showed his party had doubled its support in the constituency since 2005. |
| The Scottish Daily Mail poll came on the final weekend of campaigning for the Westminster seat. | The Scottish Daily Mail poll came on the final weekend of campaigning for the Westminster seat. |
| The main parties were all out meeting shoppers less than a week before electors get the chance to vote. | The main parties were all out meeting shoppers less than a week before electors get the chance to vote. |
| The newspaper poll, conducted by Progressive Scottish Opinion, questioned 509 voters between Monday and Thursday. | The newspaper poll, conducted by Progressive Scottish Opinion, questioned 509 voters between Monday and Thursday. |
| It put Labour at 52%, the SNP at 35%, the Liberal Democrats at 3% and the Conservatives at 7%. | It put Labour at 52%, the SNP at 35%, the Liberal Democrats at 3% and the Conservatives at 7%. |
| 'Support is strong' | 'Support is strong' |
| At the last Westminster election in 2005 those parties achieved 61%, 17%, 12%, and 7% respectively, on a turnout of 48%. | At the last Westminster election in 2005 those parties achieved 61%, 17%, 12%, and 7% respectively, on a turnout of 48%. |
| The poll also suggested that 29% of electors had yet to make up their minds on who to vote for. | The poll also suggested that 29% of electors had yet to make up their minds on who to vote for. |
| Mr Salmond said in the constituency on Saturday that he was confident the Nationalists could close the gap. | Mr Salmond said in the constituency on Saturday that he was confident the Nationalists could close the gap. |
| Alex Salmond celebrates during a game of bowls at Garrowhill Bowling Club | Alex Salmond celebrates during a game of bowls at Garrowhill Bowling Club |
| He said: "Our support is strong, motivated, and it's going to turn out. | He said: "Our support is strong, motivated, and it's going to turn out. |
| "The poll shows a lot of undecideds - but the only reason those people are undecided is they are moving from the Labour Party to the SNP." | "The poll shows a lot of undecideds - but the only reason those people are undecided is they are moving from the Labour Party to the SNP." |
| SNP candidate John Mason is a 51-year-old accountant and a Glasgow councillor for 10 years. | SNP candidate John Mason is a 51-year-old accountant and a Glasgow councillor for 10 years. |
| Labour responded to the poll saying it was taking nothing for granted. | Labour responded to the poll saying it was taking nothing for granted. |
| A party spokesman said: "We are not going to get carried away by this poll. | A party spokesman said: "We are not going to get carried away by this poll. |
| "We know this by-election will be a real fight. We are taking nothing for granted and fighting for every vote." | "We know this by-election will be a real fight. We are taking nothing for granted and fighting for every vote." |
| Fire station petition | Fire station petition |
| The party is fielding Margaret Curran, 49, who is currently MSP for the Holyrood constituency of Baillieston, which falls within Glasgow East. | The party is fielding Margaret Curran, 49, who is currently MSP for the Holyrood constituency of Baillieston, which falls within Glasgow East. |
| She spent the day on walkabouts and attending campaign street stalls in shopping centres. | She spent the day on walkabouts and attending campaign street stalls in shopping centres. |
| Ms Curran said: "As the campaign enters its final stage, I will be fighting for every vote. | Ms Curran said: "As the campaign enters its final stage, I will be fighting for every vote. |
| "I intended to spend this weekend speaking to local people to tell them that I will never talk down the east end, as my hard-line Nationalist opponent has done." | "I intended to spend this weekend speaking to local people to tell them that I will never talk down the east end, as my hard-line Nationalist opponent has done." |
| Labour is defending a majority of more than 13,500 in Glasgow East | Labour is defending a majority of more than 13,500 in Glasgow East |
| Liberal Democrats, fielding Ian Robertson, 30, a maths teacher, also campaigned among shoppers and collected signatures for a petition against a local fire station closure. | Liberal Democrats, fielding Ian Robertson, 30, a maths teacher, also campaigned among shoppers and collected signatures for a petition against a local fire station closure. |
| Mr Robertson said: "I call again on my opponents in this election to stand beside me and join my campaign in support of this vital local service." | Mr Robertson said: "I call again on my opponents in this election to stand beside me and join my campaign in support of this vital local service." |
| Tory candidate Davena Rankin was joined by Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie and shadow Scottish secretary David Mundell. | Tory candidate Davena Rankin was joined by Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie and shadow Scottish secretary David Mundell. |
| At next Thursday's vote, Labour will be defending a majority of 13,507 after the resignation on health grounds of MP David Marshall. | At next Thursday's vote, Labour will be defending a majority of 13,507 after the resignation on health grounds of MP David Marshall. |