LABOUR candidate Alison Taylor insists she has seen “no sign” of a Tory surge in Renfrewshire as voters prepare to return to the ballot box - despite the party making gains in the local elections.

The Conservatives won eight seats on Renfrewshire Council and are hoping for further success in next month’s General Election.

However, Mrs Taylor, who hopes to clinch the Paisley and Renfrewshire North seat for Labour, is confident her party can win back the hearts of the electorate.

She said: “I am pleased with how the campaign is going and I am seeing no real sign of any Tory surge.

“I am getting a very positive response from people regarding the Labour manifesto, which I believe has something for everyone, and I hope there is time to get the message across.

“I am very concerned the Scottish economy is not growing as it is in the rest of the UK. I think the Labour manifesto includes everything we need to create a thriving economy.

“I cannot believe the Tories thought their policies would get them votes. They are becoming very nasty and their manifesto was very uncaring, particularly towards the elderly.”

Mrs Taylor, 50, hit the campaign trail at the British Pipe Band Championships, in Paisley, at the weekend, where she wore a sticker declaring ‘Stop droning on about IndyRef2’.

And the mum-of-one claims some SNP supporters are also against the idea of a second independence referendum at this time.

She added: “Most people seem to think it is too soon after 2014 and we cannot afford it.

“I think people seem quite fed up of Nicola Sturgeon.”

Labour released their Scottish manifesto last week, which included pledges to extend breakfast clubs into every primary school and ban onshore fracking.

The party’s UK manifesto included a pledge to abolish the so-called ‘rape clause’ affecting child tax credits and support the renewal of Trident.

Mrs Taylor said: “I believe it offers a real alternative to the austerity offered by the Tories and the repackaged cuts passed on to Scotland’s communities by the SNP at Holyrood.”