LABOUR can offer a better vision of change than independence according to Anas Sarwar who is bidding to be the party’s next Scottish leader.

The Glasgow MSP said his leadership will take the party back to power at Holyrood and then transform the city for the better.

Mr Sarwar said he will focus on tackling a “crisis” in the NHS from day one and deliver a fairer deal for public services and public sector workers.

He said he recognises why people left Labour for the SNP but also the Conservatives in recent elections.

Mr Sarwar, said: “We have been losing voters to the SNP for a number of years, prior to the referendum and then that was the tipping point.

“There were two reasons, the Labour Party took its time to adapt to devolution. People questioned whether we always put Scotland first.

“The referendum shook up Scottish politics.

“We need to be honest with ourselves. People voted yes in 2014 not on nationalism but they felt it was the hope of change on offer.

“It was the illusion of hope that was on offer. We can reach out and say there is faster, safer, and bolder change on offer with Jeremy Corbyn as Prime Minister.

“We need to persuade those same people there is radical change.”

However while some believed the SNP stood up for Scotland he says others, no voters, felt the Tories were a better bet than Labour to defend the UK.

He added: “We missed out on getting a lot of Labour MPs elected because the Tory vote went up. Some Labour voters held their nose and voted Tory because they thought the Tories stood up for the union better and to the SNP.”

In 2014 Mr Sarwar toured Scotland in his red bus campaigning for a no vote and he said his commitment to the UK is as strong as ever.

He added: “No-one can doubt my position on Scotland being part of the UK.”

Mr Sarwar, who has been a MP for five years and a MSP since 2016, said he is the candidate to unite the Labour party.

He said: “I have the ability to bring the party together to be a force in opposition.

“I can reach out to voters in Glasgow and across Scotland. I’m Glasgow through and through. I was born here, lived and worked in this city all my days.

“What you will get with me is I’ll deliver a fair deal for Glasgow that will protect services, end the pay cap deliver on a derelict land tax to get us building houses. Scrap the pre-devolution debt and get to grips with the NHS crisis.

On day one I will increase training places, clamp down on private sector spend and increase paid training.

In education I will end centralisation of the education sector.”

Mr Sarwar has faced criticism over his family’s cash and carry business not paying the living wage and his decision to send his children to a private school.

He said he is not a millionaire and the attacks show others fear his leadership.

He said: “I support the government setting what a fair day’s pay is and support the Living Wage policy and I want to see it across the country.

He added: “These attacks from the SNP attack machine and SNP friends in the media. They know I’m a fighter. They know I’m resilient.

“I think a number of these attacks are coming from the SNP attack machine.”

He said he is proud of his family and the people of Glasgow.

Mr Sarwar said: “I’m proud of my family. I’ll never apologise for being my father’s son.

“People know my family and know the man my father is. They know his values.

“People of Glasgow stood side by side shoulder to shoulder with my family in the face of racism, fascism and islamophobia and I thank them for that.”