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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Labour attack Salmond's ability | Labour attack Salmond's ability |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Labour leader Jack McConnell has accused Alex Salmond of being unfit to carry out the office of first minister. | Labour leader Jack McConnell has accused Alex Salmond of being unfit to carry out the office of first minister. |
| It comes as the SNP leader said Labour was attacking Scottish self-confidence in its campaign for the May election. | |
| Mr McConnell said Mr Salmond had proved a lack of commitment to Scotland by not remaining an MSP six years ago. | Mr McConnell said Mr Salmond had proved a lack of commitment to Scotland by not remaining an MSP six years ago. |
| Meanwhile, the Conservatives insisted they were strengthening their position in the polls and the Lib Dems raised concerns over Iraq. | Meanwhile, the Conservatives insisted they were strengthening their position in the polls and the Lib Dems raised concerns over Iraq. |
| Speaking to BBC Radio's Sunday Live, Mr McConnell said: "The SNP are trying to avoid scrutiny rather than welcome it, which we have. | Speaking to BBC Radio's Sunday Live, Mr McConnell said: "The SNP are trying to avoid scrutiny rather than welcome it, which we have. |
| "And increasingly people are realising that Alex Salmond would not be a fit person to be first minister of Scotland." | "And increasingly people are realising that Alex Salmond would not be a fit person to be first minister of Scotland." |
| Education pledge | Education pledge |
| Mr McConnell said he always knew the campaign would be a tough one but he warned voters about the choices the faced in May's election. | Mr McConnell said he always knew the campaign would be a tough one but he warned voters about the choices the faced in May's election. |
| He also stressed that education was his main priority and making sure young Scots were the best educated in the world. | He also stressed that education was his main priority and making sure young Scots were the best educated in the world. |
| The SNP pointed to its continued lead in the polls, claiming Mr Salmond was "far and away" the most popular candidate for first minister. | The SNP pointed to its continued lead in the polls, claiming Mr Salmond was "far and away" the most popular candidate for first minister. |
| SNP campaign director Angus Robertson said: "In every single leadership quality - stands up for Scotland, intelligent, has the best ideas, etc - Alex is far preferred to Mr McConnell. | SNP campaign director Angus Robertson said: "In every single leadership quality - stands up for Scotland, intelligent, has the best ideas, etc - Alex is far preferred to Mr McConnell. |
| "On the economy, health, education, and law and order, the SNP have the right policies to take Scotland forward." | "On the economy, health, education, and law and order, the SNP have the right policies to take Scotland forward." |
| Mr Salmond also hit out at Labour campaign tactics in a Scotland on Sunday interview. | Mr Salmond also hit out at Labour campaign tactics in a Scotland on Sunday interview. |
| He told the paper that Labour were "out of synch" and had been "disreputable" in the sense that they were "attacking Scotland and Scottish self-confidence". | He told the paper that Labour were "out of synch" and had been "disreputable" in the sense that they were "attacking Scotland and Scottish self-confidence". |