SNP vote 'alternative to decade of despair'

First Minister Alex Salmond said today that a vote for the SNP offered an alternative to the "decade of despair" offered by a Labour or Tory UK Government.

Mr Salmond told supporters at the official launch of the SNP's election campaign that SNP-initiated "cherished services" were at risk if a Labour or Tory Government was elected on May 6.

He said: "Neither Tory nor Labour want their plans scrutinised in this campaign, but an analysis of their budget demonstrates that they are both planning a decade of despair in public services."

Mr Salmond said Labour's plans suggested 30 billion of cuts for Scotland over the next 15 years and that the Tories were planning an additional "Cameron cut" north of the border.

He said: "The London parties represent a real threat to the quality of public service in Scotland – a threat to education and health and justice.

"Labour and Tory now threaten deeply-cherished policies like free personal care, free education and community policing."

Mr Salmond also said that Nationalist candidates in the General Election will make a "community commitment" to constituents which he described as a contract with the electorate.

He said: "SNP MPs will not go to London to settle in, they will be there to settle up for Scotland, to be their community's voice, their community's champion."