This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/6456319.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
SNP in early strike on Tony Blair Top businessman banks on the SNP
(10 minutes later)
Prime Minister Tony Blair is visiting Scotland as the Scottish National Party unveils its programme for government if it wins May's election. The Scottish National Party has won support from a leading business figure as Prime Minister Tony Blair makes a flying visit to Scotland.
The SNP plan greater local health control and community sentences for minor offenders. Sir George Mathewson, former Royal Bank of Scotland's chairman, announced his support in a letter to The Scotsman.
He backed SNP leader Alex Salmond for first minister and argued that the SNP and independence could liberate Scotland from a "dependency culture".
It comes as the SNP also unveiled its policy programme for government.
The party plan greater local health control and community sentences for minor offenders.
But Mr Blair is expected to say that the SNP's plans for independence would be prohibitively expensive.But Mr Blair is expected to say that the SNP's plans for independence would be prohibitively expensive.
The news comes as Sir George Mathewson, Royal Bank of Scotland's former chair, announced his support for the SNP. Tony Blair is in Scotland to boost Labour's election campaign
Sir George backed Alex Salmond for first minister and argued that the SNP and independence could liberate Scotland from a "dependency culture". Sir George, who helped make the Royal Bank of Scotland the world's fifth biggest bank, said Labour were creating a "fear culture" about independence.
The Liberal Democrats said that the Nationalists were only interested in ending the Union and the Tories said the election must be about issues that really concern people. "It's difficult to forecast the future, but I see no circumstance where independence would be a serious [economic] disadvantage," he writes.
He also accuses the Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition of having a "lack of high quality leadership".
Mr Salmond said: "Sir George personifies the success in business and public service that we want to see for the whole of Scotland.
"He speaks with great knowledge, authority and credibility, and I am hugely encouraged that he has decided to make his views public."
The Liberal Democrats said the Nationalists were only interested in ending the Union and the Tories said the election must be about issues that really concern people.