Margaret Curran, Labour’s Candidate for Glasgow East, was today joined on the campaign trail with DI Robbie Ross from top Scot cop TV drama Taggart.

John Michie who plays DI Ross today visited Easterhouse with Margaret Curran and local Community Enforcement Wardens.

Speaking ahead of the visit today, Margaret said:

“It was great to get out on the beat with Taggart’s DI Robbie Ross and the local wardens. This was a chance for me to talk to the wardens about my Safer Streets Action Plan and to listen to them about the best ways of clearing up our streets.

"People in the East End are telling me that they want more done to tackle knife crime, clean up the streets and deal with the thugs and neds who make too many lives a misery.

“Yesterday I was pleased to visit a positive scheme that is working with young people in the East End to break down gang culture. This is vital if we want safer streets in the future but we also need real action now.  I’m banging heads together making sure that everyone is working together on this.

“There is a real need for more CCTV and I will demand that Westminster makes it easier for the police to use and retain images. You also need to be prepared to lock up those who flout the law – on knife crime my position is very clear: brandish a blade, go to prison.

“Councillor Mason, my hardline nationalist opponent would stand by as the SNP wants to pull the rug from under the feet of those fighting crime by dumping 4,000 dangerous criminals, including hundreds locked up for carrying knives, out of Scotland’s jails onto the streets.”

John Michie said:

“I’m delighted to be here in the East End, joining Margaret on the campaign trail.

“I thought DCI Matt Burke was tough until I met Margaret, she’s a gutsy woman who will be a full time fighter for the East End. She believes in tough action to ensure east end streets are safe – and that tackling crime locally must be the number one priority.

“I know from my own experiences that Labour has made a real difference to Glasgow but we need tough fighters like her in Westminster to make sure that progress continues.

”We all know that the police can’t do their job unless they have politicians who will fight for them to have the powers they need – and that’s exactly what Margaret would do. So my message to the East End is: if you want safer streets, vote for Margaret.”