FIRST MINISTER Jack McConnell was accused of “ducking” a chance to debate with other Scottish party leaders last night ahead of the Holyrood elections in May, writes Steve Bargeton.

Mr McConnell was the only leader of the four main political parties not to appear on the BBC Question Time TV programme last night.

A source close to the First Minister made it clear that Mr McConnell has no intention of debating until the Holyrood election campaign starts after parliament has risen at the end of March.

SNP leader Alex Salmond, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen and Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie appeared on the programme. Labour was represented by the vice-chairman of the Labour election campaign, Lord Foulkes, former MP George Foulkes, a candidate on the party’s Lothians list.

SNP election campaign director Angus Robertson said, “Yet again the Labour leader, Jack McConnell, is not being allowed by his party to debate with Alex Salmond.”