Blair backs McConnell's campaign

Tony Blair praised Jack McConnell's achievements in Scotland

Prime Minister Tony Blair said he was on the election campaign trail in Scotland not only to attack his rivals but to put the case for Labour.

Mr Blair was speaking to BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme on the second day of the Holyrood campaign.

The Labour leader criticised the SNP's plans for "separation" and spoke about Scotland's strong economy.

But SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon accused Mr Blair of being a "major electoral liability" for Labour.

Elsewhere in the campaign, the Tories are promising pensioners a 50% council tax discount and the Lib Dems will set out plans to repeat their Dunfermline by-election success.

'Dangerous risk'

Chancellor Gordon Brown was also in Glasgow to help with his party's campaigning in both the Scottish Parliament and local elections.

He criticised the SNP's economic policies and said Scottish independence was a "dangerous risk".

"Revenues from the North Sea, no matter how generous you make them, cannot make the SNP sums add up," he said.

Labour argues that even on "generous" estimates of North Sea oil revenues, the SNP's independence plans would result in an annual deficit of £12.9bn, equivalent to more than £5,000 per household.

However, an SNP spokesman said: "The only things that have been wrong are the Chancellor's own figures.

"Even in the recent budget, he forecast oil revenues based on a price of $58 a barrel when the current price is $68."

What Jack is setting out is a very exciting agenda in relations to education skills, law and order and the health service Tony Blair Prime Minister

Mr Blair said he was not simply going to attack SNP policy. He said he was putting the case for Labour based on a strong economy, a better health service and more apprenticeships for young people.

He added: "It is right to debate separation.

"The difficulty is that it is such a big thing to do, if Scotland makes the decision to separate from the UK, it is such a big step, it has implications for families and so on. So, it would be bizarre if we weren't debating it.

"If you set aside separation, and focus on the best policies for Scotland, even within devolved government, then I think we are strong.

Political poll

"What Jack is setting out is a very exciting agenda in relation to education skills, law and order and the health service.

"If you contrast that with SNP policy, I've been looking at the SNP claim to right off student loans, a £2bn commitment, how are you going to pay for that?"

He said the campaign was partly about "your own positive agenda" and "saying why voting for your opponents is a bad idea".

The visit comes as the latest Holyrood opinion poll suggested the SNP had maintained a lead over Labour.

The prime minister was interviewed by BBC Radio Scotland

The ICM survey of voting intentions for the Scotsman newspaper claimed the SNP is five points ahead of Labour in the constituency vote, with 32% support.

The ICM survey gap is four points in the regional list vote where the SNP is on 31 points.

The Liberal Democrats are in third place with the Conservatives in fourth.

ICM spoke to 1,000 adults by phone at the end of last week.

However, Mr Blair said it was more important to debate Labour's "exciting ideas" rather than debate its position in the opinion polls.

He praised Jack McConnell's policies on skills academies and health care, and said the unemployment rate in Scotland was lower than the UK average and that there were now 200,000 more jobs.

"The moment you've got the SNP government in charge and you've got that referendum over the next few years, then you inject uncertainty and instability into the situation," he said.

Jack's not the first guy out the tracks with the glib sound bite, but he is the person that will take the right decisions for Scotland Tony Blair

"And then of course the people in the driving seat taking the train down the track are the SNP who will want to win that referendum and make sure they can have separation.

"I think when you've looked at these economic questions and you look at the effect on industry and living standards, the question is: is Scotland stronger today economically, answer: yes.

"Why put that at risk."

Controversial figure

Mr Blair described Mr McConnell as a "safe pair of hands" and "strong, steady, solid leader".

He added: "He's not the first guy out the tracks with the glib sound bite, but he is the person that will take the right decisions for Scotland.

"Seeing someone whose got a sensible practical set of policies versus SNP policy - most of it seems to be based on Labour policy from the 1980's.

"Huge, unfunded spending commitments, a sop thrown to business, but at the same time they'll cut your taxes."

Mr Blair dismissed accusations that he was seen as a liability to the Scottish Labour campaign.

He said 10 years in government meant it was inevitable that he would become a controversial figure, but that he was able to look back on Labour's achievements with real pride.