Labour has reportedly increased the number of Scottish seats it is targeting at the general election after being buoyed in recent polls.

Sir Keir Starmer's party has been tipped to do well north of the border, where it picked up just one seat at the last election in 2019.

The party has since won a by-election to double its number of Scottish constituencies, but is now eyeing up surpassing the SNP as the most prominent party in the country.

Labour's Scottish manifesto is set to be published today as postal votes begin to drop on doorsteps.

Anas Sarwar is expected to say that voting Scottish Labour is a vote to "give back hope and opportunity" to young people.

He'll add: "This election is an opportunity to deliver change for everyone in Scotland right now. But this election is also about the next generation of Scots and the future we build for them."

Meanwhile, SNP leader John Swinney has been highly critical of Labour for not distancing themselves more from the Tories.

Mr Swinney is to urge Mr Sarwar to scrap the two-child benefit cap after new research showed the policy will affect one in five children when it is fully rolled out.

Among the poorest fifth of households, it will affect 38%.

Mr Swinney said: "“Anas Sarwar also has a choice — he can choose doing the right thing for vulnerable children in Scotland, or doing what he is told by Keir Starmer.

"That is a decision that will speak volumes — and the people of Scotland will be watching."

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