EXCLUSIVE: Councillor McAllister set to stand in Glasgow North East

SNP Councillor Billy McAllister looks set to stand as a candidate in Glasgow North East at the forthcoming general election.
Already known for his frank talking and no-nonsense approach McAllister says he will clean up the streets of Springburn.
He said: ‘If elected by my party I’ll have a right shot at it. Number one on the agenda is fighting crime and bringing about law and order.
‘The constituency has the highest concentration of organised criminals anywhere in Scotland. It’s time to get serious – lets get tackling these people.
‘I want to bring a buzz to the area, I’m not scared to go where others are, and I’m not scared to speak my mind.’
The Scottish Labour Party’s Willie Bain MP won the North East by-election in November last year with 59% of the vote.
It would be a tall order for anyone to dislodge Bain, and McAllister is under no illusions.
He hopes for a far greater voter turn-out than the record low of 32% who exercised their democratic right last time round in the constituency.
Councillor McAllister added: ‘The aim first and foremost will be to get people along to the polling station to vote.
‘I’d like to think I can really enthuse people, engage with them and deal with the issues that matter.’
McAllister – who was a welder in the ship-yards and then worked in the oil industry prior to being elected councillor in February 2006 – is keen to point out that he has not yet been put forward by the party.
He added: ‘I’ll have a go at – but it’s yet to be decided – so I’m not counting my chickens just yet.’
It is understood that former candidate and previous SNP front-runner David Kerr has taken up a high profile post away from politics.
Kerr proved a winner on the doorsteps at the by-election but a series of high profile gaffes blighted his campaign including his tossing of a two pound coin at Willie Bain on live television.
McAllister joked: ‘I certainly won’t be doing that, I haven’t got money to be throwing away!’