Scottish Secretary John Reid launched a savage attack on the nationalists when he made the keynote speech at a union conference in Edinburgh.

Dr Reid claimed Labour is the party of values - while the Scottish National Party engages only in the "politics of identity".

And he also hit out at Conservative claims that the Scottish Executive is pursuing the wrong policies.

The address was given to members of the public services trade union Unison at its annual Scottish conference in the country's capital.

Dr Reid claimed new Labour policies are not only delivering economic competence but social justice as well.

Rubbishing claims

He rubbished claims by the Conservative leader William Hague, who visited the Scottish Parliament this week, that the executive is pursuing the wrong policies such as the repeal of Section 28 - which bans the promotion of homosexuality in Scotland's schools.

Dr Reid claimed the Tories are out of touch and he accused the SNP of attempting to hijack Scottish identity while being unable to deliver for the country.

The Labour politician said the nationalists are out of step with society.

But the SNP hit back, saying John Reid has been left with nothing to do since the creation of the Scottish Parliament.

Deputy leader John Swinney said: "Labour are running scared because they are increasingly viewed as a London based metropolitan party, out of touch with Scotland.

"In the Welsh by-election, Labour crashed from second to fourth place because they are out of touch.

"John Reid is panicking at the prospect of London Labour suffering a similar fate in the Ayr by-election.