Commenting on Labour's latest campaign blunder – where the Daily Mail reveals today that Taggart actor John Michie (who campaigned with Margaret Curran on Tuesday) made a film for the BBC's This Week last year discussing advantages of independence for Scotland – SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson said: "Labour's campaign goes from bad to worse.  Margaret Curran has delivered yet more Labour confusion on the constitution.

"As if losing their original candidate was not bad enough, Labour have gone from sneaking in Government Ministers under cover, to revealing a supporter who believes that the UK is 'emotionally and politically redundant'!
 

"After Mrs Curran's false claims about living in the East End, and her campaign's inability to tell a 93 year old war hero from a 67 year old Labour activist, Labour's campaign is clearly in chaos.

"In contrast, the SNP campaign is growing every day with more and more voters deciding to send a message to Gordon Brown that enough is enough. They know that the SNP is on the side of people in Glasgow East, while Labour is now totally out of touch."

Notes:

1. CELEBRITY BACKER OFF-MESSAGE ON INDEPENDENCE On Tuesday, Labour campaigned in Glasgow East with Taggart actor James Michie.  Mr Michie made a film for BBC's 'This Week' programme just a week before the 2007 election in which he said: "An independent Scotland would find a new confidence - it would slow down the brain drain that takes so many of its brightest and most skilled."

In the Daily Mail today, Mr Michie is reported as not being persuaded about the merits of independence, but he felt that the UK was "emotionally and politically redundant".

2. This follows Margaret Curran's website having a story and photograph of the Labour candidate allegedly meeting with 93 year-old war hero Mr McGuiness.  Ms Curran said that Mr McGuiness looked "not a day past 70".

The photo – since removed – had been up for a week until the mistake was pointed out, but Mr McGuiness is a 67 year-old Labour activist who had been given an MBE.  The war hero is Mr John Hipson.  Full details here.

3. The Labour campaign sent a letter from Mrs Curran to SNP candidate John Mason, saying "I need you to vote for me.  Without that I can't do anything."  Cllr Mason lives in Glasgow East.

4. Of course, the Labour candidate wrongly said at her campaign launch: "I have worked in the East End all my life, I have lived in the East End all my life" - when she has lived in the Southside of the City for many years.

All of which suggest that the Labour campaign is in substantial internal disarray.