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Blair focusing on Holyrood poll Blair urges protection of union
(about 4 hours later)
Prime Minister Tony Blair has arrived in Scotland in the hope of helping Labour to see off the challenge of the SNP in the Holyrood elections. The prime minister has backed First Minister Jack McConnell to protect the union as a partnership which benefits all parts of the UK.
He is meeting campaigners and activists at an event in Glasgow with First Minister Jack McConnell. Tony Blair gave his support while he met campaigners and activists on a visit to Glasgow with Mr McConnell.
Mr Blair last visited in November, when he warned of a constitutional nightmare if the SNP win power in May.Mr Blair last visited in November, when he warned of a constitutional nightmare if the SNP win power in May.
The leader of the SNP said the PM was an asset to the Nationalist campaign and described him as "boomerang Blair".The leader of the SNP said the PM was an asset to the Nationalist campaign and described him as "boomerang Blair".
Ahead of his visit, Mr Blair told the Herald newspaper: "What I am more interested in doing, instead of explaining the disbenefits of separation, is to try to get across the fantastic benefit of being together. Visiting Easterhouse, the prime minister endorsed Mr McConnell's leadership, saying it had made Scotland "better, stronger and fairer".
"If you take the financial service sector to give one example, there is no doubt Scotland is one of the leading centres of financial services in Europe. All of us are better off together Tony BlairPrime Minister
"We can't ignore the fact that the SNP's raison d'etre is separation but actually I would prefer to focus on the strength we get, economically, socially, in terms of investment, in terms of what we can do on issues like poverty and social justice because we are together." In a change of campaign style, he also sought to present Scotland remaining in the UK as a partnership which benefited all parts of the country.
Extolling the gains to be achieved, Mr Blair said: "When we work in that partnership, we are stronger and better off.
"All of us are better off together. It's not just a question of putting out the negative and disastrous consequences of separation, although I think those are very clear.
"It's also the positive elements of us coming together and working together."
The SNP leader has described the prime minister as 'boomerang Blair'The SNP leader has described the prime minister as 'boomerang Blair'
A Labour spokesman said the Scottish campaign visit was by "the most electorally successful leader the Labour Party has had - three elections in a row and the party on course for a fourth under its next leader".A Labour spokesman said the Scottish campaign visit was by "the most electorally successful leader the Labour Party has had - three elections in a row and the party on course for a fourth under its next leader".
He added that Mr Blair would set out the "positive" case to vote Labour.He added that Mr Blair would set out the "positive" case to vote Labour.
However, SNP leader Alex Salmond said: "Blair's unpopularity is rebounding badly on Labour's campaign.However, SNP leader Alex Salmond said: "Blair's unpopularity is rebounding badly on Labour's campaign.
"He is a walking reminder of how we were dragged into an illegal war in Iraq, and the 'cash for peerages' scandal."He is a walking reminder of how we were dragged into an illegal war in Iraq, and the 'cash for peerages' scandal.
"Mr McConnell clearly isn't in charge of his own campaign, and Tony Blair can tell us the extent to which Labour in Scotland is funded from London, as well as being controlled from there.""Mr McConnell clearly isn't in charge of his own campaign, and Tony Blair can tell us the extent to which Labour in Scotland is funded from London, as well as being controlled from there."
'Beggars belief''Beggars belief'
At First Minister's Questions, Mr McConnell was challenged by the Nationalists to advise the prime minister about "some hard realities".At First Minister's Questions, Mr McConnell was challenged by the Nationalists to advise the prime minister about "some hard realities".
Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP's Holyrood leader, said the first minister should voice concerns many people in Scotland have over the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system.Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP's Holyrood leader, said the first minister should voice concerns many people in Scotland have over the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system.
She said: "Will the first minister speak up for Scotland at all today when he meets Tony Blair, or is he just going along to listen to his master's voice?"She said: "Will the first minister speak up for Scotland at all today when he meets Tony Blair, or is he just going along to listen to his master's voice?"
Mr McConnell pointed out that her party's leader is a London-based politician.Mr McConnell pointed out that her party's leader is a London-based politician.
"I really do think that it beggars belief that Miss Sturgeon is prepared to come here and talk about leaders from London," he said."I really do think that it beggars belief that Miss Sturgeon is prepared to come here and talk about leaders from London," he said.
"There's only one group in this parliament that's led from London and it's the SNP.""There's only one group in this parliament that's led from London and it's the SNP."