​Glasgow's Needy organiser says he will stand in Westminster general election

A leading light in a controversial Glasgow foodbank drive has announced he wants to become an MP.

Darren Carnegie, who organises the Glasgow’s Needy project, said he wants to unset Labour’s Margaret Curran in the east of the city.

Making the announcement on his group’s Facebook page (below), he said he was standing because he was “sick” of seeing children going hungry.

Carnegie, his voice at times cracking with emotion, said: “I’ve made a conscious decision, a lot of people have urged me to do this, not for me, not for my dad not for Glasgow’s Needy but for the people.

“I’m sick of visiting families and there’s children without food, people have no gas or electricity, children going hungry.

“I’m sick of racism, misogyny, fascism, bigotry and xenophobia. I want to stand to represent the people. to fight for social justice and a fair and equal society.

“I hope people all support me in this. I’m going to only take an average working man’s wage. The clenny men, postmen, joiners, the real people of society - I will take the same as them and the rest of the money will be directed into the communities to feed vulnerable poor people because I’m sick of it and you’re sick of it.”

Carnegie will stand as an anti-poverty independent candidate in the Glasgow East constituency in next year’s Westminster General Election.

Glasgow’s Needy – which is not a registered charity and which Carnegie runs with his dad Andrew – came to prominence after it held a food collection in George Square following unionist violence after the referendum result.

It has proved to be a controversial presence, sparking a bitter war of words with the city’s established foodbanks.