SNP candidate Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh met with staff and volunteers at The Gate charity in Alloa last week.

The General Election hopeful for Ochil and South Perthshire was accompanied by colleagues MSP Keith Brown and former First Minister Alex Salmond on Friday, May 19.

Ms Ahmed-Sheikh is seeking re-election when electors go to the polls on June 8 and has been campaigning around the constituency over the past weeks.

Following her visit to the charity's North Church base in town, the politician thanked volunteers and staff for sparing some of their time to meet her and talk about their work.

She said: “Charity foodbanks like this one play a vital role in our communities, and I'm extremely grateful for all the good they do, but it's a damning indictment on our treatment of the poor and vulnerable that foodbanks are necessary in our modern society.

“That’s why I’ve worked hard to fundraise to support this important local service over the past two years, and why I was motivated to introduce my own parliamentary bill in my first year as an MP, which would have stopped the DWP from leaving social security claimants destitute though the unfair benefits sanctions process.

“Although my proposal gained cross-party support from Labour, Green, SNP MPs and others, it’s shameful that a lack of backing from Tory MPs meant that the reforms I proposed were ultimately not approved.”

Ms Ahmed-Sheikh also added a large Conservative majority following the snap election would mean more chops to benefits.

She said: “If the Tories are elected with a super-majority on June 8, there will be more cuts to social security, less support for the vulnerable, and more bad news for young people.

“That’s why I’m standing for re-election, so that I can finish the job I’ve started. If voters here lend me their vote I'll continue to be a strong local MP with a national voice, standing up for the vulnerable in our communities.

“Since 2015 the SNP has stood firm against damaging Tory policies, but now more than ever it’s vital that we have strong SNP voices at Westminster standing up to the Tories so we can continue to make Scotland the best country it can be.”