Alistair Darling and Alan Johnson will be visiting the constituency today

Darling and Johnson campaign in Glasgow

Darling and Johnson campaign in Glasgow

By politics.co.uk staff

Two Cabinet heavy-hitters will be campaigning in Glasgow North East today as the by-election goes into high gear.

Alistair Darling, chancellor, and Alan Johnson, home secretary, will be hitting the constituency today to support Labour’s candidate, Willie Bain.

They follow hot on the heels of Gordon Brown, who visited on Friday. His wife has been campaigning there for some time.

The visit was a marked change to previous approaches by the prime minister, who resisted calls to visit other by-election campaigns earlier in his administration.

Labour strategists are placing a great deal of importance on the by-election, especially given that it will probably be the last before the general election.

Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat leader, will also be visiting today. David Cameron has previously made the trip.

The by-election was triggered after Speaker Michael Martin, now Lord Martin, stepped down from his post, and his position as an MP, in the wake of the expenses scandal.