Jeremy Corbyn touched down in Stornoway today stating he is fighting to take the Western Isles seat off the SNP.
The Labour leader told Hebrides News that ousting Angus Macneil is “absolutely” in his sights.
The islands has the smallest electorate in the UK and just needs a 3.4% swing, he pointed out.
Western Isles is high up in his list he said, naming the range of past MPs serving the islands. He reckons a Labour candidate will be elected at the next general election.
Many air passengers waited back after disembarking from the Glasgow plane to shake hands and take selfies with Mr Corbyn.
He is visiting the Shawbost mill this afternoon and is holding a public rally in Stornoway Sports Centre this evening.
Mr Corbyn is the first serving Labour leader to visit the Western Isles in 19 years. The last was Tony Blair when he officially opened the Scalpay bridge.
Jeremy Corbyn said he plans to visit 15 target seats in Scotland over the next five days.
Kicking off his tour in the Hebrides delivers a major coup for the local party.
The SNP took a hammering in June’s general election when sitting MP Angus MacNeil’s majority was slashed to just over one thousand votes.
Labour is working to capitalise on the downward trend.
It aims for a comeback in Scottish politics having been reduced to only one MP in 2015 general election and being hammered in the May council elections.
Buoyed by the June results where they won seven seats -
Corbyn flies in for Western Isles visit
23 August 2017
Jeremy Corbyn hugs Ealasaid MacDonald, Labour’s candidate at the recent election
Mr Corbyn arrived at Stornoway airport at noon on the first leg of his five day Scottish tour.
