Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar speaks after his party make gains in local elections

Speaking from Scottish Labour run West Dunbartonshire Council Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar said: “Today there is no doubt that Scottish Labour is back.

“We are continuing the work of rebuilding this party so we can get a chance to rebuild the country.

“I don’t aspire for second place - I aspire to first place.

“In Scotland the choice is now between a forward looking and optimistic Labour Party or the bitterness and division of the SNP.

“The next electoral test will be the General Election.

“Nicola Sturgeon wants to pretend that the next General Election is Scotland versus England, but it isn’t - it will be Boris versus Britain, and Britain will win.

“For fifteen years the SNP have tried to stoke up bitterness, division, and anger - but there is new hope, energy and positivity from Scottish Labour to challenge them.

“Our mission is not to be a party of protest - it is to be a party of government, so we can change lives.

“Right across the U.K. we see anger, division and corruption at the hands of this out-of-touch Tory party.

“Here in Scotland SNP failure has left people are knocking back items at food banks because they can’t afford to cook them, teachers are taking resources into the classroom, children are waiting three years to speak to a mental health counsellor and our NHS is on its knees despite the incredible efforts of the staff.

“For all of those people across the country we are going to put an end to the bitterness, the division, and the us versus them politics of the Tories and the SNP.

“We are going to unite our country for change and get the Labour Party where it needs to be - with a Labour Prime Minister in the U.K. and a Labour First Minister here in Scotland.”