Speaking after the BBC Scotland by-election debate on the Politics Show, SNP candidate for Glasgow East Cllr John Mason said: "No wonder Margaret Curran doesn't want Alistair Darling to come to Glasgow East - she just dumped the Chancellor on the car tax.  It is extraordinary that Margaret Curran thinks the Chancellor should come to Glasgow East at 'any other time', but not during a crucial by-election when his policies are causing so much pain.

"Labour are under huge pressure on fuel, and Margaret Curran's remarks show that they are in headlong retreat in the by-election, as they feel the impact of a 15 per cent swing to the SNP.
 

"Labour's campaign is in complete confusion - if every single other Labour MP is being ordered to come to Glasgow East, why can't the Prime Minister come to explain where they actually stand on car tax?

"An SNP victory will force UK Government action on fuel - to wipe out the 2p duty rise, set up a fuel price regulator, u-turn on their unfair car tax proposals, and give Scotland a fair share of our own oil resources. An SNP MP will make a difference.  Labour only offer more of the same.

"The Labour candidate thinks the Chancellor is wrong on car tax, and that she was wrong on Iraq, was totally confused on the dual mandate issue, and thinks that a 15% swing to the SNP represents 'progress'.

"Labour have had their chance in Glasgow East, and failed.  They are out of touch.  The SNP are on the people's side.

"We have already secured a swing from Labour of the proportions of the Crewe & Nantwich by-election.  We are two-thirds of the way to victory, and I am totally confident that we can win this by-election for Scotland a week on Thursday."