Living costs dominate by-election

Campaigning on Friday in the Glasgow East by-election has been dominated by the rising cost of living.

The SNP said this could be offset by the "windfall" from rising oil prices while the Conservatives called for a fuel regulator to reduce pump prices.

Labour drew a parallel between fuel poverty and pre-payment metres and the Lib Dems focused on access to benefits.

The vote will take place on 24 July. It was called when Labour's David Marshall resigned on health grounds.

SNP candidate, John Mason, explained how a "windfall" from the rising cost of oil could be used to offset the rising cost of food.

"The government in Westminster is raking in about £6,000m extra on top of their budget because of the high (oil) prices," he said.

"They could be feeding that back by way of a fuel regulator and that equates to about £48-per-week-per-household for this part of Scotland."

"People here are really struggling and they would like to see some of that back."

Conservative candidate, Davena Rankin, also said action on fuel was needed to help struggling families.

"George Osborne, the shadow chancellor, has proposed a fuel price regulator which would cut fuel by 5p per litre," she said.

"This would go some way to easing the burden we are currently all suffering, as well as instigating a round-robin effect in lowering prices.

"Even allowing for the fact that global events have shaped much of the current predicaments we face, Labour has no solutions except to demand more money from us."

Labour's Margaret Curran also focused on the cost of living, arguing the poor were being "ripped off" by rules on prepayment meters.

'Global rises'

She said she would fight to ensure that those with prepayment meters, and those not paying by direct debit, did not pay more for their power.

"I know that people in the east end are feeling the pinch as a result of the global rises in the price of energy," she said.

"It's a scandal that poor residents are being ripped off as a result of unfair power company rules."

Lib Dem candidate, Ian Robertson, said something had to be done to help people who were suffering most.

"People in the east end of Glasgow are feeling the pinch perhaps more than other parts of the UK," he said.

"We help people in the budget, we help people get access to the benefits they are entitled to and a good local MP should be ensuring that people get through this difficult period."