Parties hit Scots campaign trail

Alex Salmond wants to mark the 1320 Declaration of Arbroath

Political parties are focusing on a range of themes on the first full day of general election campaigning.

The SNP set out five "tartan tests" of key issues to judge other parties. Labour is placing its economic record at the heart of the party's campaign.

The Tories criticised a "deplorable lack of liaison" between the Holyrood and Westminster parliaments.

The Liberal Democrats used their record of government in Scotland to claim they can deliver across the UK.

Who does what - Westminster or Holyrood?

The SNP formally kicked off its campaign in Dundee, where the marginal seat of Dundee East is among its top campaign targets, on the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath on 6 April 1320.

'Independence Day'

Party leader Alex Salmond called for 6 April to be made a new national holiday, "Independence Day", alongside St Andrew's Day on 30 November.

The "tartan tests" are "fair" pensions; more police; no more nuclear waste, weapons or power, saving Scottish military regiments and the establishment of an oil fund to regenerate the economy.

The nationalists are also launching a website to point out policies promoted by other parties which would not apply in Scotland.

Alistair Darling said the economy was key to Labour's message

Campaign posters were unveiled - one mocking "Joke McConnell in a reference to Scotland's First Minister Jack McConnell.

Mr Salmond, whose party has five sitting MPs at Westminster, said: "I believe we have more capacity to win more seats than the Labour Party, certainly in Scotland."

Scottish Secretary Alistair Darling said the economy would be central to Labour's campaign in Scotland, citing Gordon Brown's stewardship of the economy and the Scottish Executive's record on public services in Scotland.

Mr Darling said: "The Tory threat means cuts of £35bn, which would hit public services, and the scrapping of the New Deal, which would put more people on the dole."

'Close' election

He was visiting the Commutaports manufacturing plant in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, where he admitted it would be a "close" and "difficult" election.

"But what we are saying is that if people want to see these improvements continue, to see the economy prosper and not go back to the failed policies of the Tory party, then they've got to come out and vote for the Labour Party," he said.

The Tories promised to "make devolution work" under a Conservative government and a Labour-Lib Dem Scottish Executive.

A reduced total of 59 MPs will be returned from Scotland

Scottish party leader David McLetchie and Shadow Scottish Secretary Peter Duncan said a Conservative government would give more prominence to the "pivotal" role of Scottish secretary.

The "West Lothian question" would be addressed by ensuring that Scottish MPs could not vote on issues relating to England, Wales and Northern Ireland that had been devolved to Holyrood.

Mr Duncan said: "All the indications are that the Labour Party are rattled by the skillful and professional campaign we are running across the UK but also in Scotland."

Lib Dem campaign

People who vote Liberal Democrat could be confident that the party would stick to the promises it made in its election campaign, the Scottish leader, Jim Wallace, said.

The Lib Dems published a document called "Keeping Our Promises", which sets out how many of the pledges it made in the 2003 Scottish Parliament election had been turned into government action.

Four out of five promises were being delivered, the party said.

"Scotland is blazing the trail for the rest of the United Kingdom," Mr Wallace declared.

"In government in Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats have provided the policy backbone for the executive's most dynamic initiatives."

Westminster powers Asylum/immigration Benefits Broadcasting Defence Employment legislation Energy Foreign policy Pensions Treasury UK economy

Holyrood powers Agriculture Arts/culture Criminal justice Economic development Education Environment Health Housing Local government Transport

Return to top