Prime Minister Gordon Brown is to campaign in the Glasgow North East by-election for Labour Party candidate Willie Bain.

Mr Brown was criticised by opposition parties for not taking part in last summer's Glasgow East by-election, where the SNP won the previously safe Labour seat. Labour argued then that it was customary for Prime Ministers not to take part in by-election campaigns.

But Mr Brown paid a brief visit to the Glenrothes by-election last autumn, where his party saw off an SNP challenge and kept the seat.

His wife, Sarah, made several visits to the Glenrothes campaign, including one where she went door-knocking to drum up support and she is expected to pay several visits to Glasgow North East, where polling takes place on November 12.

A Scottish Labour spokesman said: "We are delighted that the Prime Minister will be coming to campaign in Glasgow North East to show his support for our excellent local candidate Willie Bain.

"He will be a real boost to the campaign."

The seat became vacant after then-Speaker Michael Martin resigned over the Westminster expenses row.

No date has been set for the Prime Minister's visit, but it could take place around the time of a two-day meeting of G20 finance ministers at St Andrews in Fife in early November.