This is an election about change.Scotland's voice is absolutely vital and it needs to be a leading voice

Labour leader says he's on a 'personal' mission to win big north of Border

- PAUL HUTCHEON

KEIR Starmer has said winning in Scotland is "absolutely vital" as he tries to oust Rishi Sunak from Downing Street.

The Labour leader said on the second day of the general election campaign that securing Scottish seats was "central" and a "personal" mission.

He also promised to review the rape clause if he leads a Labour government after July 4.

Opinion polls show Labour on course for power at Westminster but the surveys also suggest huge gains from the SNP.

One poll found Labour going up from two seats to 35, with the SNP falling to 11.

Addressing the Scottish Labour launch in Glasgow, Starmer said wanting to win seats north of the Border was about more than the numbers.

He said: "This is personal. If I am privileged enough to come in to serve as the UK prime minister, I want to be the prime minister for the whole of the United Kingdom and that includes Scotland.

"Over and above the numbers, having strong Labour representation from Scotland sitting on the government benches matters to me."

He also said having Scots in government reflected something "very deep" about the way he sees politics.

Starmer claimed the SNP was as "divided and chaotic" as the Tories and said real change could not be delivered by MPs in opposition. He also insisted the General Election was "what Scotland needs and what Scotland has been waiting for".