Ed Miliband to join campaign trail as ex MP's brother joins SNP

Election campaign: Ed Miliband is in Glasgow.

Labour leader Ed Miliband has hit the campaign trail in Scotland, pledging action to tackle the "scourge of joblessness," even though his party is not in government.

The visit comes as it was announced that the brother of ex Labour MP Mohammed Sarwar, Mohammad Razman, has joined the SNP.

The businessman had supported Labour in the past by donating money to election campaigns but decided to switch to the SNP saying he wanted what was best for the city. Mr Razman told the Herald: "Unfortunately, under the current Labour administration the city has not moved forward."

With the local council elections taking place next week and the Labour Party out of power in Westminster and Holyrood, Mr Miliband will try to convince voters that they do not need to wait for a new government for action on unemployment.

The number of 18 to 24-year-olds in Scotland who have been out of work and receiving Jobseeker's Allowance has increased by 1,155% between December 2007 and March 2012.

But Mr Miliband, who is visiting Glasgow with his party's Scottish leader Johann Lamont, said the city was just one authority where Labour councillors had come up with initiatives to help people get back to work.

Speaking ahead of his visit, Mr Miliband said: "There's been a 1,155% increase in youth unemployment since 2007.

"Labour is not in government but we can still protect Scotland's people from a life on the dole. Scotland does not need to wait three years for a Labour government before we start tackling the scourge of joblessness.

"Even in these tough times when there is less money around, Labour council candidates are showing how we can make life fairer for people."

Mr Miliband cited some councils where he said Labour was proposing action to cut the number of people on the dole queue.

He said: "In North Lanarkshire Labour will fund 5,000 new jobs through a wage subsidy scheme, and in East Renfrewshire Labour will promote a youth employer subsidy scheme to help firms take on young workers.

"And in Glasgow, where I will be with Johann Lamont today, Labour is bringing forward the Glasgow Guarantee so that every 16 to 24-year-old in the city is guaranteed a job or training."

He insisted: "Our determination to eliminate youth unemployment is shared by every Labour candidate standing in these elections.

"The challenge of conquering long-term unemployment is so important and so huge that it can only be achieved if we have a single-minded determination to make it happen."

Mr Miliband said he was coming north of the border to campaign and to "offer Scottish Labour's council candidates my support."

He added: "Today, all across Scotland, hundreds of Labour members will be out, knocking on doors and speaking to their neighbours and people in their villages.

"We are showing how we will stand up for families and hard-pressed communities."

More About Local elections 2012