Cowdenbeath by-election, Ed Balls hits the campaign trail with a message for Alex Salmond, stop ducking facing Alistair Darling, odious SNP Candidate Natalie McGarry goes with a message on children’s health and diet, what does she know about health and fitness, how to use a knife and fork?

Dear All

Labour’s shadow Chancellor Ed Balls has hit the campaign trail in the Cowdenbeath by-election in support of Alex Rowley who is said to be the firm favourite to capture the seat following the tragic death of Helen Eadie.

Ms. Eadie passed away due to ill health.

As the Cowdenbeath by-election enters its final phase, Ed Balls has called on Scotland’s ‘jolly fat man’ Alex Salmond who has invested time and energy along with the entire SNP Cabinet in this by-election to stop calling for a TV debate with "English Tory" David Cameron.

Salmond knows that he isn’t getting it, he has been ducking facing Better Together campaign chief Alistair Darling on independence too long.

This is the only fight in town on offer but that offer might be withdrawn in future.

As to the SNP's plans for Scotland's future, particularly over currency, Salmond has no answers, the tide is slipping out under him and he has been left high and dry.

This is a Scottish matter between Scots.

Salmond is scared to face Scots that talk back.

Speaking in Lochgelly Balls said:

"It seems to me that Alex Salmond is very unhappy with the prospect of debating with Alistair Darling and is therefore trying to claim an English Tory should come up and lead the campaign. That's not going to happen in anybody's world”.

Balls quickly added:

"If Alex Salmond had the courage of his convictions, he would sit down and talk to me and Alistair about whether he could keep the pound, and be straight with the Scottish people."

Odious SNP Candidate Natalie McGarry spent the day outside her former primary St John's School accompanied the English SNP Sports Minister Shona Robison.

Robison made the headlines after trying to silence an academic by contacting his employer.

The school visit was to highlight what the SNP was doing to improve Fife children's health.

The SNP was quick to bring up the ‘bribe’ of free school meals for primaries one to three in its attempt to buy the vote for Sturgeon’s proxy who is a carpetbagger who is not living in the constituency.

McGarry said:

"The early years of children's lives are so important when it comes to setting the healthy habits that can last a lifetime."

What does she know about health and fitness?

Has she looked in the mirror lately and seen the state she is in physically?

Maybe Shona Robison can give her a pamphlet on healthy eating and diet.

The expression ‘burst couch’ comes to mind rather readily.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said the SNP's record of failure in Fife shows why Cowdenbeath needs a LibDem to stand up for the area.

The Lib Dem candidate has no chance as this is seen as a two horse race between Labour and the SNP.

Labour has carefully selected Alex Rowley who is Cllr Alex Rowley, Leader of Fife Council.

He is very much the local candidate to the SNP’s carpetbagger.

Scottish Conservative candidate Dave Dempsey said Labour and SNP were obsessed with each other.

He said:

"They've spent more time obsessing about each other and trying to land political punches than actually giving the voters what they want."

Dempsey has no chance although he should pick up votes.

The election takes place on Thursday.

Smart money is on a Labour victory; however it will be interesting to see if the SNP ‘bribe’ of free school meals works on the people of Cowdenbeath.

Yours sincerely

George Laird

The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University