Michael Shanks slammed the SNP after it was revealed the nationalists outspent Labour in a failed attempt at holding onto the Rutherglen and Hamilton West seat in the recent by-election.

In the by-election campaign that ensued after voters ejected Margaret Ferrier, Humza Yousaf's party expended £95,997, while Labour expended £81,877, according to the Daily Record.

Shanks, who defeated Katy Loudon, the candidate of the SNP, by 9,446 votes on a swing of more than 20 percent, criticised his rival party in a recent comment to Lanarkshire Live.

He said: “It is remarkable how much the SNP spent in this by-election, especially when you consider they were using zero-hour contracts to deliver their leaflets.

“But what this shows is that it doesn’t matter how much you spend - real change is people-powered.

“Rutherglen and Hamilton West voted for a fresh start and I am determined to deliver it.”

An SNP spokesperson responded: “In the face of successive failing Westminster governments, the SNP always work as hard as possible to offer people across Scotland a better future and politicians who deliver for them.”

The spending limit was £100,000 per candidate.

The SNP's expenditures included £41,800 for advertising, £36,657 for voter unsolicited materials, £7,544 for "agent and other staff costs," and £9,995 for administrative and accommodation costs.

Alongside this, £10,469 was spent on a "voter survey", £17,175 on an "election address" and approximately £3,000 was given to Jack McKelvie for his services.

Moreover, £573 was spent on a carpet, and £3,500 was spent on "refurbishment"; another £2,390 was given to TNT for rent.

The expenses incurred by Anas Sarwar's party include £15,020 for advertising, £22,709 for voter unsolicited materials, £5,300 for transport, £3805 for public meetings, £30,847 for "agent and other staff costs" and £4,194 for accommodation and administrative expenses.

Labour's higher-end notional spending included £12,118, while office renting came to £3,744.

Labour registered "campaign" donations from the party totalling £81,877, whereas the SNP reported individual donations of almost £95,000.

A donation of £5,428 in cash and £90,568 in "non-cash" were included in this.

Meanwhile, the Tories only spent £13,533 on candidate Thomas Kerr's candidate.

*Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.

And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.