Glenrothes by-election: Cameron defends Union on visit to Fife

He vowed to challenge any argument for independence during a by-election campaign visit to Glenrothes in Fife.

Mr Cameron accepted the Conservatives had little chance of winning the Westminster seat in a hotly-contested race between Labour and the SNP but pinned hopes on securing Unionist votes.

He said: "Of course it is possible that Scotland can stand alone – that is true.

"I just think it would be better off in the United Kingdom. Better off for all of us.

"I don't think we'd ever succeed in saving the Union by frightening Scots to say you couldn't possibly make it on your own.

"That's not the way I approach it. The Union to me is about generosity – we're stronger together because we share so much together.

"I think we'll win it. We'll win the case for the Union through taking a generous attitude rather than a small-minded one."

He also vowed to work with the First Minister of Scotland if the Tories win power at Westminster.

Mr Cameron said: "The very first thing I'd do would be to get straight to whoever the First Minister of Scotland is and say 'I want to keep the Union together'.

"I will work with anyone in the Scottish Parliament and administration who wants to further the benefits and conditions for the people of Scotland."

Mr Cameron visited the Fife town with Tory candidate Maurice Golden and Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie.

The Glenrothes seat was made vacant by the death of John MacDougall, a Labour MP who won a majority of more than 10,600 at the last election.

The Tory leader used his visit to meet local business representatives.

Mr Cameron said there was a range of concerns, including over-regulation and taxation, as well as "anxiety" as the economy slows down in Britain.

He said: "We've got to keep burdens down on business, we've got to recognise that small and medium enterprises are the lifeblood of the economy."

Tory plans include delaying VAT bills by six months and cutting national insurance for companies with fewer than five employees.

Asked if his wife would campaign in the town, as Gordon Brown's wife did yesterday, Mr Cameron said: "Don't hold your breath."

Labour today brought Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell to its Glenrothes campaign.

He said: "David Cameron's visit to Scotland today just highlights the stark difference between Labour and the Tories.

"The Tory government abandoned pensioners in the last economic downturn and was happy to use unemployment as an economic tool.

"We are helping pensioners, and helping people get back to work."

Mr Purnell highlighted the looming rise in the winter fuel allowance to 250 for pensioner households.

"Labour introduced the winter fuel payment in winter 1997 to make sure people like the pensioners I met today can stay warm in the winter," he said.

"The 50 extra this winter will help cover the increased costs of fuel.

"It's vital that we help pensioners this winter, and that's why Labour's decision to give free insulation to all pensioners aged over 65 is so important."

SNP candidate Peter Grant highlighted free bus travel for the elderly and called on Westminster to bring in a fuel duty regulator to stabilise petrol prices.

"More and more people are using the bus as an alternative to paying high petrol prices," he said.

"While the SNP is expanding free travel services, Labour are looking to increase taxes on those who have to drive.

"Instead of helping ease the burden of bills as the SNP is doing, Labour look set to pile the pressure onto Fife families."

Mr Grant went on: "The SNP is the only party that has put forward serious proposals to bring fuel taxes under control with a fuel duty regulator – a policy all other parties failed to support.

"In Glasgow East the prospect of an SNP win brought a freeze on fuel duty.

"In Glenrothes an SNP victory will help keep fuel duty down."

The Liberal Democrat campaign took former party leader Charles Kennedy to a bagpipe manufacturer, JT Shepherd and Son, in Cardenden.

"The SNP are full of hot air and Labour have run out of puff," said candidate Harry Wills.

Mr Kennedy said: "I'm very pleased to be joining Harry today, with just two weeks left until the people of Glenrothes choose their new MP.

"It is increasingly clear they face a choice between an MP, in Harry, who will fight for Fife, and an MP who is more concerned with the petty squabbling of Labour and the SNP."