Clarke: on his way to Scotland

Scottish Labour has turned its focus to law and order with the backing of the home secretary.

The party says that joined-up government between Holyrood and Westminster is the best way of tackling Scotland's crime and anti-social behaviour, and continuing the fight against gun and knife offences.

Charles Clarke joined Scottish justice minister Cathy Jamieson and secretary of state for Scotland Alistair Darling.

"Across the UK Labour is now the party of law and order," a spokesman for the party said.

"Our focus will be on reminding people that it's only through a strong partnership between Edinburgh and London that we can make sure Scotland gets the action on crime that's necessary."

Other senior Labour figures are also hitting the campaign trail in Scotland, following the publication of a Sunday Mail/Scottish Opinion poll suggesting the party's support north of the border is slipping.

First minister Jack McConnell was joining two of the party's MEPs in Aberdeen and Ochil, together with parliamentary candidate Anne Begg.

And the Scottish Labour leader was later set to tour Crieff with local candidate Gordon Banks.

Privately, the party is said to be worried that anger over Iraq, combined with boundary changes in Scotland, could see it lose up to nine seats in addition to those already being lost through the reduction in Scottish seats.