SNP unveils business backing

The SNP today attempted to boost its reputation as a serious party by highlighting its business credentials. SNP leader Alex Salmond revealed some 100 business leaders have publicly backed the party, signing up to the statement: “Scotland can be more successful. That is why we are supporting Alex Salmond and the SNP on May 3rd.” […]

Labour barely survives Scottish Union vote

The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) became the focus of the Scottish election campaign today, where Labour narrowly survived a vote on whether the unions should support them at the Holyrood election. That was immediately followed by a further vote concerning Scottish independence in which delegates in line with Labour policy to overwhelmingly reject calls […]

Scots urged to take Holyrood election seriously

Tony Blair has headed to Scotland to join Scottish Labour leader Jack McConnell on the election campaign. It is the prime minister’s third trip north of the border since the campaign began a week ago and comes as all but one recent opinion poll gave the SNP a comfortable lead over Labour. As commentators increasingly […]

SNP say ‘it’s time’ for power at Holyrood

The SNP launched their manifesto today, amid increasing optimism that the pro-independence party could take power at Holyrood. Touted under the banner “it’s time”, flagship policies include a commitment to abolish council tax and instead fund local services through a three pence income tax rise – the maximum allowed by the devolved government. The SNP […]

SNP and Tories battle it out over union

The SNP leader Alex Salmond and Conservative leader David Cameron managed to reach some consensus on Scottish politics today, while vehemently disagreeing over the future of the union. Both party leaders agreed English issues should be decided by English MPs, although clashed over how this would be conducted. Writing in the Telegraph, Mr Cameron reject […]

Blair & Brown risk ‘own goal’ for Scots campaign

The prime minister Tony Blair and chancellor Gordon Brown travelled to Scotland today to defend Labour ahead of next month’s Scottish election. With successive opinion polls showing a strong lead for the SNP, Mr Blair has been forced to defend the place of Scotland within the union and attack the SNP’s calls for separation. However, […]

SNP gain strong lead over Labour

The SNP have achieved a ten point lead over Labour ahead of the upcoming Scottish election. With a lead in both constituency and regional polls, SNP leader Alex Salmond could be appointed first minister of the Scottish parliament after May 3rd. The Populus poll, commissioned by the Times, puts the nationalists comfortably ahead of the […]

Tories reveal modest Scottish election ambitions

David Cameron launched the Scottish Conservatives election campaign today with the unusual admission the party would not hold power. Instead he suggested they would simply represent the everyday concerns of Scots in parliament, accusing Labour of ignoring the “bread and butter issues” in favour of “bone chilling” language. In a visit to Edinburgh to meet […]

Blair urges Scots not to disband union

Tony Blair has urged Scots not to vote for independence and risk the world’s “most successful voluntary union between two countries”. The 300-year-old union between England and Scotland has allowed both nations to prosper, enjoy stability and exert “astonishing” influence in the world, the prime minister wrote today. In an article in the Telegraph ahead […]

Blair takes the fight to SNP

Tony Blair was in Scotland yesterday campaigning against the SNP ahead of the Scottish parliament elections in May. It was the prime minister’s first visit to the country in the run-up to the Holyrood elections, and he will be hoping his visit helps overturn the SNP’s lead in the polls. Mr Blair met Labour campaigners […]