THE SNP and Scottish Labour have begun their battle for the Rutherglen and Hamilton West parliamentary seat, with each pointing the finger at the other for local and national issues.

A date has not yet been set for the by-election which was triggered following a recall petition for former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier after breaching Covid-19 rules.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn was in Cambuslang yesterday alongside the party’s candidate Katy Louden.

Mr Flynn hit out at Labour’s stance on Brexit — which he said was fuelling the cost-of-living crisis and making families in the constituency poorer.

He said Labour has “sold Scotland out by backing a hard Tory Brexit and ruling out any return to the EU and single market.”

Ms Loudon said Labour candidate Michael Shanks must explain the party’s stance.

“He has so far failed to stand up to Westminster on all major policies — therefore voters will rightly be wondering if he has any sort of backbone at all,” she said.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie responded by saying: “The SNP’s increasingly desperate interventions against the Labour Party shows just how out of ideas they are.

“They are resorting to attacks because they have nothing to show for their 16 years in government and nothing to offer voters in Rutherglen and Hamilton West.”

The by-election campaign also comes amid controversy over a reduction in night-time bus services, including some to the constituency, by First Bus Glasgow.

Labour has seized the opportunity and accused SNP ministers of failing to enact franchising legislation which would allow local councils to take control over services.

Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh, who will be visiting the constituency today, said: “The SNP have dragged their feet and refused to act, even as communities have been robbed of essential services.”