The battle for business credibility dominated the hustings yesterday, as Chancellor Gordon Brown insisted that the SNP had blown its chance of success by opting for instability and confrontation.
Nicola Sturgeon, deputy SNP leader, highlighted the backing of former Royal Bank of Scotland chairman Sir George Mathewson, Stagecoach chief Brian Souter and KwikFit founder Sir Tom Farmer: "These are serious business people and I think they know more about the Scottish economy than Tony Blair or Jack McConnell.
"The biggest voices who have spoken in this campaign are backing the SNP."
Mr Brown insisted: "When the SNP puts their case it comes under intense scrutiny and it's at that point people decide that the case is based on either false figures or fantasy economics or on the politics of gripe and grievance."
The Chancellor said the SNP had chosen not to go into the election based on taking government and working within the existing powers of Holyrood Mr Brown said: "They decided on a policy that they would argue the opposite, conflict from day one."
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