Keir Starmer welcomes Daily Record general election backing for Labour

Keir Starmer has welcomed the Daily Record's backing for Labour at the general election.

The UK Labour leader said it is time to "put Scotland at the heart of a Labour government."

The newspaper had not backed a party at a Westminster election in 14 years, but announced it would be supporting Labour on Tuesday's front page.

The Record said next week's vote is about setting Scotland and the UK on a different path.

It added that change is coming and Scots should be part of that by voting Labour.

Starmer welcomed the endorsement by sharing the Record splash. He tweeted: "It’s time to turn the page and put Scotland at the heart of a Labour government."

Polls have shown Starmer is likely to become the next Prime Minister as Labour has been consistently 20 points ahead of the Tories.

Scottish Labour is also predicted to make gains from the SNP and possibly emerge as the largest party.

This is despite Labour only winning one Scottish constituency in 2019, compared to the SNP's 48.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said it was an "honour" to have the Record's backing at the general election.

He said: “It is an honour to have the backing of the Daily Record in our campaign to defeat the Tories and deliver a Labour government with Scotland at its heart.

“This election is a change election and it is clear that a Labour government is the change Scotland needs.

“We will continue to fight for every vote with humility and hard work - to win the trust of the people of Scotland.

“A vote for Scottish Labour is a vote to make sure we get rid of the Tories, to put Scotland at the heart of a Labour government and to deliver the change we need.”

Senior Labour figure Emily Thornberry also shared a tweet of the frontpage.

She said: "Wow! This is big."

But the SNP's Mhairi Black said she was not surprised when she heard the Record was endorsing Labour.

The outgoing MP also questioned the influence of newspapers over voters.

Black told BBC's Newsnight: "It's one of the least surprising things, if you've been following the Daily Record.

"But also I question how much things like that actually influence the electorate.

"I'm cautious when I say that because undoubtedly there is an influence.

"But one the whole, when I'm talking to people in Scotland, quite a few seem to have made their mind up.

"And the ones that are undecided, I doubt they'll be swayed by a newspaper headline."

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