GLASGOW must get more attention if Labour is to get back on track in Scotland, it was claimed today.

Cathy Jamieson, one of the front-runners for the Scottish Labour Party leadership, said current efforts "to rejuvenate and regenerate" the city were "superb".

But she admitted the defeat in the Glasgow East by-election showed the party had to do more to re-connect with voters.

Launching her leadership bid, she said: "Crime and education figures show these are the big issues in Glasgow which must be tackled but the city needs more attention at all levels."

Ms Jamieson said the by-election defeat had to be "taken on the chin" and claimed it would have been worse if Margaret Curran hadn't been the candidate.

Ms Jamieson resigned yesterday as the party's deputy leader to contest the leadership but will continue as acting leader until a full-time appointment is made.

Another front-runner, East Lothian MSP Iain Gray also announced he would stand.

He said: "Labour must re-establish trust with voters by focusing on what matters to them and by proving ourselves in holding the SNP to account more effectively."

The the third of the front-runners, East Kilbride MSP Andy Kerr, will launch his campaign later this week. He believes the leader must have more influence.

Cathcart MSP Charlie Gordon is also standing and is the only candidate to back Wendy Alex-ander's view that Labour should go head-to-head with the SNP in an independence referendum.

He said: "There's nothing to fear and we'll just look silly if we do a somersault."

The new leader will be named on September 13.