THE torrential rain in Glasgow yesterday gave SNP heavyweights on the campaign trail the perfect excuse to nip into the pub for a while.

Senior figures in the party, including former First Minister Alex Salmond and Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop, joined MSP Humza Yousaf in pulling a few pints behind the bar of the Old Govan Bar.

Yousaf is contesting the constituency seat of Glasgow Pollok, currently held by Labour’s Johann Lamont, in May’s Holyrood elections.

Yousaf, who is running for the first time for a constituency seat, said: “I’ve enjoyed being a list MP and representing Glasgow, but there are some unique challenged in Govan and the wider area of Glasgow Pollok. There are a lot of challenges the people of Govan and Pollok face, and they need an MSP who will stand up against the Tory Government and Glasgow City Council.”

Salmond added: “Winning an overall majority in a proportional system is a tough task but I think Nicola and her team are well up for it”