Sir Keir Starmer sets out plans for Scotland in Greenock

Voters will go to the polls on July 4 after Tory leader Rishi Sunak called a snap election last week.

Sir Keir was joined by a number of Labour figures, including deputy leader Angela Rayner, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, shadow secretaries Ed Miliband and Ian Murray, and MSP Jackie Baillie at the Beacon Arts Centre this morning.

The party set out six pledges for Scotland ahead of the election on July 4, including plans to deliver economic stability, cut NHS waiting times, introduce a New Deal for Working People, create opportunities for young people and maximise Scotland’s influence using the UK’s global trade network.

Another of Labour's promises to Scots concerns its proposals for publicly-owned clean energy company, Great British Energy, which would be headquartered in Scotland.

Martin McCluskey (Image: George Munro)

GB Energy is part of the party’s mission to make the UK a ‘clean energy superpower’ by 2030.

Speaking at the event, Martin McCluskey – who will contest the Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West seat at the election on July – told voters they had a choice between ‘change’ with Labour or ‘chaos and incompetence’ with the Conservatives.

He said: “Here in Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West, I know what people have told me they want to see: a stable economy, higher family incomes, stronger public services and decency and integrity restored to public life.

“And for this area, plans for GB Energy and investing in green jobs are essential. Where we are standing was once the beating heart of industrial Scotland, with yards that sent ships around the world.

Sir Keir Starmer (Image: George Munro)

“But we need industry and manufacturing to be part of our future, not just stories from out past.

“With Labour’s plans, we have a once in a generation opportunity to make our country, and communities like this one, leaders in green jobs.”

It is yet to be confirmed where in Scotland GB Energy would be based, but Sir Keir said he hoped the commitment can act as a 'down payment' on how his party plans to 'work together with Scotland'.

He also echoed Mr McCluskey’s comments and said his party was asking voters for the chance to ‘change Scotland Britain’ and ‘put them back in the service of working people’.

Sir Keir Starmer and Anas Sarwar (Image: George Munro)

Sir Keir added: “The Tories won’t change in Westminster, the SNP won’t change here.

“It’ll be more chaos, more division, more sleaze, more scandal.

“We have to stop the chaos, we have to draw a line - but here’s the good news: you don’t have to put up with it anymore, you can choose change.

“But don’t take anything for granted. If you want change, you have to choose change, vote for change, and make sure that we boot the Tories out and end the chaos.”