Hague mocked in mask stunt

Step forward the real Mr Hague

Conservative leader William Hague faced himself when arrived to campaign in the Glasgow Anniesland constituency a week before the by-election caused by Donald Dewar's death.

Several Labour supporters donned masks with his face on them as they mocked the Tories' policies.

Mr Hague made a whistlestop visit to the constituency to launch his party's bid to seize the high ground on law and order.

At the same time, the Scottish National Party tried to capitalise on the revolt by Labour backbench MPs over the part-privatisation of the UK's air traffic control services.

Double poll

The Tory leader's campaign was ridiculed by Labour and the Liberal Democrats, whose Scottish leader Jim Wallace was also campaigning in the constituency.

The by-election on Thursday 23 November will see Anniesland elect a new MP at Westminster and an MSP to sit in the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Hague was on a whistlestop tour

Mr Hague unveiled a poster which claimed police numbers had fallen under Labour.

"We would like to see the number of police officers restored to what it was at the last election," he said.

"Of course, in elections, in safe Labour seats we are the underdog but this does not mean we do not go out and meet the people and talk about the issues."

Mr Wallace, whose party is in a coalition government with Labour in Scotland, disputed Mr Hague's claims and said funding had been provided for substantial increases in police numbers.

'Crime level down'

During a visit to a nursery as part of the campaign, Mr Wallace said £8.9m had been provided to help recruit some 300 police officers across Scotland.

In addition there was also funding in place to provide 200 more officers linked to the Scottish Drugs Enforcement Agency, he said.

Scotland Office Minister and Labour MP Brian Wilson said police figures for the Strathclyde area showed crime was at its lowest level for 25 years.

One week to go before polling day

"The long fightback after 18 years of contempt for people and places like this by Mr Hague's party is well under way. People know that the Tory Party is part of the problem, not the solution," he said.

Meanwhile, the SNP highlighted the rebellion by Labour backbenchers over plans to privatise National Air Traffic Services (Nats).

Transport spokesman Bruce Crawford said a vote for the nationalists would be a vote against privatisation.

"The Anniesland constituency lies under the Glasgow Airport flight path.

"If they go ahead with this the UK will be the only country in the world to privatise its air traffic control system," he added.

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The full list of candidates is:

Westminster

• Dorothy Luckhurst, Scottish Conservative

• William Lyden, Family Action Movement

• Charlie McCarthy, Scottish Socialist Party

• Christopher McGinty, Scottish Liberal Democrats

• John Robertson, Scottish Labour

• Grant Thoms, Scottish National Party

Scottish Parliament

• William Butler, Scottish Labour Party

• Thomas Chalmers, SNP

• Judith Fryer, Scottish Liberal Democrats

• Rosie Kane, Scottish Socialist Party

• Kate Pickering, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

• Murdo Ritchie, Socialist Labour Party

• Alastair Whitelaw, Scottish Green Party