Gordon Brown, fresh from the controversy over his letter to the mother of a dead soldier, has written to more than 4,000 voters in Glasgow North East only 48 hours before the polls open in tomorrow’s by-election in the constituency.

Although Labour appears still confident of winning the contest, party strategists are worried that the wet weather forecast for Glasgow could mean a very low turnout — which could hurt Labour’s chances and give the SNP a chance of pulling off a shock victory.

Mr Brown’s typed letter is a repeat of the tactic Labour used before last year’s Glenrothes by-election, which Labour won, and is designed to counter apathy among Labour voters.

In it, the Prime Minister says that at a time of global economic turbulence, Glasgow’s values, which he lists as “standing up for one another, doing our best even in difficult times, trying to help others”, are an inspiration.

“I pledge to you that I will do all it takes to save jobs, rebuild our economy, and make sure Glasgow is not left out of the recovery,” he writes.

“All politicians have to make choices and choose priorities. Our priority is to help people back to work and get our country back on track.”

In the letter, Mr Brown also pays tribute to Willie Bain, the Labour candidate, as “a man who cares so much for his local community and his city”.

Mr Brown also uses the letter once again to attack the SNP government over its decision to cancel the £170 million rail link between Glasgow city centre and the airport.

“It will cost vital jobs across the city. It is a wrong and shortsighted choice that the people of Glasgow will not forget”, he says.

The SNP responded by claiming that reports that the Labour-dominated Glasgow City Council was planning to offer redundancy terms to 4,000 council workers undermined the Prime Minister’s jobs pledge.

Mother accepts PM’s apology, page 19

Times Recommends

• The real-life adventures of Tintin the spy
• Our universities face a radical upheaval
• Doctor Who