LABOUR’S leadership has been urged to focus on the future and a green industrial revolution ahead of a Scottish visit by the shadow chancellor. 

Rachel Reeves will visit Renfrewshire today in her first visit north of the border in the role, claiming a Labour government at Westminster would “buy, make and sell more in Scotland.” 

The party has set out plans to use social and environmental clauses in public contracts to raise standards, as well as prioritising British companies and those offering secure work for public contracts. 

Ms Reeves claimed the pandemic offers a chance to seize new opportunities and shape a new future for Scotland, promising to bring security and resilience back to the economy.

Ahead of the visit, Labour figures called for grassroots decision-making to be a part of plans to reverse decades of de-industrialisation.  

West of Scotland MSP Katy Clark said: “We need to grasp the nettle to invest in the jobs of the future with a Green Industrial Revolution which develops the economy sustainably. 

“Communities, workers and trade unions need to be at the heart of decision-making with well-paid local jobs.

“There must be a relentless focus on the regeneration of the West of Scotland, which created so much of Britain’s wealth in the past.”

The Labour leadership was told it must be bolder in its plans, with Momentum’s National Coordinating Group Scotland representative, Rory MacLean, saying it is right well-paid, unionised jobs be put first. 

He said: “Now we are free from the EU state aid rules, it’s time to push for the public ownership of key Scottish industries.

“Our water, electricity and railways should be owned by us, and run for the benefit of Scots from Thurso to Dumbarton.”