Labour
Tony Blair attacked Alex Salmond's "absurd" idea that an independent Scotland could opt back into the UK. Jack McConnell campaigned against SNP tax plans, with ministers fighting marginal seats in central Edinburgh and Aberdeen. He then took part in a four-leader TV debate. Tom McCabe said Labour would consider a maglev bullet train between Edinburgh and Glasgow.

SNP
Having flown an 80ft "It's Time" banner across central Scotland, the SNP welcomed a superpoll result giving it an eight point constituency lead. It also led on council vote intentions. Alex Salmond welcomed four Sunday newspapers' support for a change to an SNP-led coalition; Sunday Herald, Sunday Times, Scotland on Sunday and Sunday Express. The party highlighted its plans to give tax breaks to artists, with endorsements including author Christopher Brookmyre.

Libdems
Nicol Stephen was on Aberdeen beach talking renewable energy, offering tax rebates for installing turbines on 40,000 homes each year. He said more wind farms will be needed, setting him apart from the SNP.

Conservatives
Annabel Goldie said she would suspend visiting rights for prisoners caught with drugs and, if necessary, require screens at visits. She also accused Nicol Stephen of "selling his country for power" after he refused to rule out a coalition with the SNP which included an independence referendum.

Others
Margo MacDonald, the Lothian independent, listed powers she wants transferred to Edinburgh without disrupting UK government. "Margo's first 11" included gun and drugs legislation, public borrowing and aid for industry.

Greens talked up their potential to join a coalition, having taken lessons from Greens in Sweden, Austria, Estonia and Belgium.

Solidarity's Tommy Sheridan attacked the wealth of UK-based billionaires on the Sunday Times rich list as "obscene".

SSP women highlighted 10 key women's issues being ignored in the "male-dominated" election campaign.

Tory leader David Cameron will campaign in Glasgow and Eastwood.

Jack McConnell campaigns with Gordon Brown in Fife, and is expected to announce the Victoria and Albert Museum will open a branch in Dundee.

Nicol Stephen will launch the LibDems' children's health manifesto.

Alex Salmond is in Lothian and Fife.

Tommy Sheridan campaigns on the Solidarity promise of a carer's wage''.

The Big Work Debate, the latest in a series of national votepod' discussions, takes place at Dundee's Abertay University, 7pm.

While Jack McConnell bravely told his Motherwell constituents their town centre is "a pigsty", Health Minister Andy Kerr, pictured, was redefining his role with an ambitious clinical brief: "My job is to ensure people live".

12:05am Monday 30th April 2007

Print

Email this