Election update: Labour targets heartlands | Poll puts SNP ahead | Cameron willing to work with Salmond

Published on Thursday 21 April 2011 11:50

Our round-up of all the stories from the Holyrood election campaign trail, plus the picture of the day and political cartoon.

PIC OF THE DAY: Prime Minister David Cameron greets Annabel Goldie on the campaign trail in Inverness yesterday

ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL...

• SNP Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon will today meet apprentices and contractors working on the construction of the new Southern General hospital in Glasgow.

• Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray will start a tour of campaigning in Glasgow's seats, covering Glasgow Pollok, Cathcart, Kelvin, Maryhill & Springburn.

Mr Gray will be campaigning alongside Labour candidate Alex Rowley. The pair will visit a pensioners' club.

• Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott is going to sign the 'Vote for Sport' pledge and play football with young people in Edinburgh.

• The Tories are campaigning in Perth with Liz Smith, Conservative education spokesperson, discussing higher education funding policies.

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IN TODAY'S PAPERS

New poll puts SNP in front

An ipsos-MORI poll commissioned by the the Sun and The Times has put the SNP on course to be the largest party in Holyrood with 60 seats with Labour trailing on 45.

The poll means the SNP would have a comfortable working majority if they can strike a deal with the Greens and independents. (Sun)

Cameron willing to work with SNP

The Labour-backed Daily Record goes on the offensive against David Cameron after the Conservative leader said his party in Scotland would be willing to work with the SNP in a coalition.

Cameron is described as "desperate" and a "stooge" by the paper for daring to contemplate such a move. (Record)

Nationalists blasted over 1bn black hole

Glasgow University think tank, the Centre for Public Policy for Regions, says the SNP's policies could run up a 1bn deficit in the four years after the election. (Mail)

TODAY'S CARTOON

By Iain Green

OPINION

Comment: The four main parties' election manifestos bulge with plans and pledges. But can they deliver?

For the second consecutive Holyrood election we have attempted to compare the costings within the manifestos of each of the four main political parties. It wasn't easy. Parties took different stances on many of the important issues when faced with a declining budget.

Tom Peterkin: The Greens' new leader is leaning Left – but with an eye on a possible post-election coalition deal

It would appear that the black fedora, Doctor Who scarf and gaudy ties sported by former Green Party leader Robin Harper were really a cloak that have concealed the Greens' true colours for the past ten years or so.

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