SNP In Aberdeen, Alex Salmond published a poll showing 71-percent public support for scrapping the council tax, then flew toStornoway to campaign in the Western Isles marginal seat. The partygave details of its campaign tactics, with one million leafletsbeing published, a cinema advert featuring Sir Sean Connery,hundreds of billboards and internet innovations. It is claimedmembership is up, and the campaign fund has passed GBP1.5m.
LABOUR Jack McConnell attacked his Nationalist rival, AlexSalmond, for not answering economic questions posed by Labour, andfor his reluctance to take questions at press conferences. The FirstMinister spent the Bank Holiday in Largs and Loch Lomond talkingtourism, setting a goal of increasing its income value by 50-percent within eight years, and with a promise to create an elite golfacademy for secondary pupils, based in Nairn.
CONSERVATIVES Annabel Goldie was also campaigning in Largs. Atthe start of Mental Health Week, she promised GBP10m extra formental health, to improve services and work with the voluntarysector. A Tory internet image targeted Labour, with a vase of wiltedroses and the message: "Labour has had its day."
LIBDEMS The LibDems promised 1000 more teachers to reduce classsizes and boost individualised teaching. In Aberdeen, leader NicolStephen said the priority is to have no more than 25 pupils inprimary one to three. There was an attack on Tories for allocatingmore of their new spending priorities to roadbuilding rather thanhealth.
OTHERS The new Scottish Voice/NHS First party published its listof candidates, targeting seats around Monklands Hospital, with SusanWighton, former "Angel of Beirut" as northeast list candidate, andwith millionaire funder Archie Stirling standing in MidScotland andFife. Green justice spokesman Patrick Harvie argued for moreChildren's Panel funding, and more effort to tackle the causes ofcrime. Solidarity said Labour had stolen its policy for cuttingScottish Water bills.
TODAY'S AGENDA Labour will be launching its manifesto in Glasgow,while Scottish Socialists are publishing their plans at Hampden.Alex Salmond is in North Uist, launching the SNP's Gaelic strategy.Nicol Stephen is with former leader Charles Kennedy, talkinghealthcare in the Gordon marginal, while Annabel Goldie is talkingpolice officers in Edinburgh.
QUOTE THE Greens' Patrick Harvie, on rivals' plans for crime andpunishment: "Anyone who is happy with the status quo will be spoiledfor choice in May."
P.S.
SNP MP Angus MacNeil was lying low on his Barra croft afteradmitting to drunken fumblings with two 17 and 18-year-old girls inShetland two years ago. It emerged yesterday that he had signed upto Commons motions decrying teenage peer pressure for sex. Screamingheadline of the day was in the Sun: "I'm a Love Rat Nat."
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