Labour: Hewitt, Brown and Darling in Scotland

Labour has been seeking to promote its economic record in Scotland.

Scotland secretary Alistair Darling and trade secretary Patricia Hewitt were visiting an industrial estate in Bellshill on Thursday, while chancellor Gordon Brown was also on the campaign trail in Inverness.

The government's track record north of the border has come under fire in the first two weeks of the election campaign, with the SNP claiming that "Britain is bad for Scotland".

Nationalists are arguing that Brown has abandoned his native country for England during his time at the Treasury.

They also say the devolved administration in Edinburgh, under Labour and Lib Dem control, has been a disappointment.

SNP leader challenged Brown to debate his "big boasts" on the Scottish economy.

However, the trio of senior ministers were expected to say that Scotland is sharing in growth along with the rest of the UK.

"Scotland's workers and businesses need a government that is on their side, equipping them with the skills they'll need in the modern economy," Brown said.

"So the choice at this election in Scotland is between Labour's commitment to stability, full employment and investment in skills and education or the Tory agenda of privatisation and cuts in public services."