Blunkett: Campaigning in Scotland

Voters north of the border should be glad that England's "unpleasant" debate on immigration has not reached Scotland, David Blunkett said.

Campaigning in Edinburgh, the former home secretary criticised the way Conservatives in London had highlighted the issue.

Blunkett was highlighting Labour's plans to get tough on anti-social behaviour.

He rejected suggestions that the issue was irrelevant to the election as it is devolved to the Scottish parliament.

"The activity of clamping down on anti-social behaviour is devolved everywhere, namely it is local but driven and supported nationally," said Blunkett.

Elsewhere on the campaign trail in Scotland, the Conservatives were highlighting their plans to improve school discipline.

And the Scottish Liberal Democrats have been urging voters to focus on the plans to improve childcare.

SNP leader Alex Salmond, meanwhile, called for an end to pension means testing.

The party says that under its 'citizen's pension' plan a single pensioner would be up to £121.11 a month better off, while couples would gain by £159.47 a month.

"Under Labour and the Tories, pensioners have lost out significantly," said the nationalist leader.

"The Conservatives cost our pensioners thousands when they cut the link with earnings.

"They have fared little better under Labour who failed to restore the link and introduced the disastrous system of means testing for a decent pension.

"The SNP will abolish Labour’s unjust and costly system of means testing that denies one quarter of pensioners the money they are due and leaves one pensioner in five living in poverty."