Brown in economy clash with SNP

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Chancellor Gordon Brown has returned to Labour's election battlefront claiming SNP policies would destabilise Scotland's economy.

His comments came during a visit to a Glasgow shipyard which is building at least six type 46 destroyers for the Royal Navy at a cost of £1bn each.

But the SNP claimed Labour was fighting a negative and failing campaign.

The Nationalists also set out their plans to make life easier for hard working Scottish families.

Mr Brown visited the BAE Systems yard in Scotstoun to chat with apprentices and recent graduates and tour HMS Daring, one of the destroyers.

'Important' industries

"We have got more jobs in Scotland now than ever before in our history, with 2.5 million people in work - 50,000 more in the last year alone - and more than 200,000 under a Labour Government," he said.

The chancellor warned Scottish voters not to put potential future growth at risk by voting for the SNP.

"I'm afraid the SNP policies would mean higher taxes, less jobs, the shipbuilding industry would be put at risk and so would many of our important services and industries in Scotland," Mr Brown added.

However, SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon said that, unlike Labour, her party had been running a positive campaign which had galvanised support in the business community.

She claimed the Chancellor had come to Scotland to scaremonger about the Nationalists, adding: "Nothing that he says will have any credibility."

Nicola Sturgeon said the Labour campaign was failing

Miss Sturgeon also visited a nursery in Falkirk to outline SNP policies to support families, including promoting flexible working, improving access to childcare and cutting class sizes in Primary One to Three to 18 pupils.

The Party said it would also bring in a first-time buyer's grant worth £2,000.

"The SNP stands for success for Scotland, and a better life for Scotland's hard working families," said Ms Sturgeon.

"That's why we are committed to working hard to make life easier and fairer for families up and down the country.

"I believe that we should do everything we can in government to make a positive difference to the everyday lives of families, not just in one or two areas, but across the board."