Labour mounted its final push in the Glasgow East by-election campaign today with a fighting speech from candidate Margaret Curran.

She delivered the speech standing on a box on a street corner outside a bingo hall in the heart of the constituency.

Ms Curran told applauding supporters: "A number of weeks ago I promised that the Labour fightback was about to start.

"The Labour fightback is under way and we are on our way."

After she finished, activists fanned out with the aim of knocking on 10,000 doors in the constituency where Labour is defending a majority of 13,507 and where voters give their verdict tomorrow.

Loss of what would normally be one of Labour's safest seats would be disastrous for the party and would raise questions over the future of Gordon Brown.

The party claimed to be aiming to have 200 activists in the constituency today, and 400 for polling day tomorrow.

In her stump speech, Ms Curran made no mention of her Nationalist rival John Mason, But that aspect was dealt with in a statement issued on her behalf, saying: "The choice in this election could not be clearer - between someone who will use every waking hour to stand up and fight for them, or someone who is obsessed with breaking up the UK and will vote with the Tories.

"Again and again, local people are telling me they are fed-up with collusion between the SNP, the Tories and some sections of the media to bad-mouth this area."

In her speech, Ms Curran vowed to stand up for the area if elected.

"There have been big issues in this campaign," she said.

"We have made a lot of progress in the east end of Glasgow, and that has to be recognised.

"But there is still so much more work to do.

"I promise that if I am elected, that work will start on Friday morning.

"I promise I will stand up for the men, the women, the pensioners, the young people, and the working people of the east end of Glasgow."

She declared that Labour was succeeding in getting its message through to the public.

First Minister Alex Salmond, who has been campaigning in the constituency almost every day, raised the stakes yesterday by declaring the contest "a test of strength" between his government and Gordon Brown's.

The Labour fightback is under way and we are on our way Margaret Curran

But today Ms Curran insisted: "I get frustrated and a lot of people in the east end get frustrated that Alex Salmond just wants to talk about himself all the time.

"I don't agree with that kind of politics.

"I want to talk about the east end of Glasgow and if I get elected, that is what I will do."

Labour's campaign has focused heavily on Ms Curran, a Holyrood MSP, and any ministerial visits have been low profile.

Ms Curran insisted the campaign had gone well, saying: "There is a sense that people want the Labour Party on the front foot.

"They want us up and fighting and arguing for their agenda and taking issues forward.

"That's what I promised in this campaign, I think it has been good for us, good for the Scottish party, and good for the British party."

And in another dig at First Minister Salmond she said: "I think a lot of people would thank me if I got to wipe the smile off his face somewhat."

The SNP took to the streets for the last day of the campaign with candidate John Mason joined by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and comedienne Elaine C Smith.

The three visited a coffee morning at Garrowhill Bowling Club, where they chatted to voters ahead of tomorrow's poll.

And Mr Mason said their campaign had gone "tremendously well".

He said: "Labour seem to have been muddling along from day one, while I have had a tremendous team."

Mr Mason has served the east end of Glasgow - which is traditional Labour territory - for 10 years as a councillor.

And he said: "If I'm elected I will be the best MP for this area."

Mr Mason went on: "If I am elected it will send a message to Gordon Brown.

"There will still be a Labour Government, but it's a Labour Government that's not been listening to people.

"Now they are waking up to that and if we win this week they will have to wake up."

Ms Sturgeon, also the Nationalists' deputy leader, claimed there had been "significant movement" towards the SNP during the short by-election campaign.

"There's a real mood to send a message to Gordon Brown," she said.

"If the SNP win this by-election on Thursday it will send the strongest possible message to Gordon Brown.

"There's an opportunity for voters to put this area on the map and make their voices heard loudly and clearly."

Ms Sturgeon added: "We intend to win. Ultimately it is up to the voters who wins this seat but our support is strong, it is motivated, and it is growing by the day."

Lib Dem candidate Ian Robertson was out campaigning on local issues, focusing on a closure-threatened fire station.

Mr Robertson handed over a petition calling for Parkhead Fire Station in the east end to be saved by Glasgow City Council.

He said the Fire Brigades Union feared that closing the station could "endanger the lives of people across the east end".

And he said: "The voices of the hundreds who have signed the petition should be heard before any decision is made."

He continued: "I launched this campaign last week, calling on all parties to stand together to stand up for the east end in protecting this vital local service. I am still waiting for their support.

"This campaign will continue long after the by-election circus has left town and on the final day of the campaign they should do the right thing and join the campaign and sign the petition."

Meanwhile, Tory candidate Davena Rankin pledged that a vote for her would be a vote for "a positive change" and "a safe change".

Ms Rankin was out campaigning with Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie.

The candidate said: "This has been a great campaign and I've enjoyed every moment. Throughout Glasgow East I've met more and more people turning to the Conservatives.

"These people are fed up with decades of Labour neglect but they don't want separatism.

"They recognise that a vote for me is a vote for a positive change, a safe change. I will be a tireless worker and a strong voice for Glasgow East, working with David Cameron to make sure the issues facing Glasgow East are tackled head-on."

Miss Goldie backed her and said: "In Davena Rankin we have an excellent candidate who will fight the Glasgow East corner with guts and passion."