By Claire Warrender

FIRST MINISTER Alex Salmond yesterday challenged the Prime Minister to a public debate as the SNP launched its Glenrothes by-election campaign.

Mr Salmond threw down the gauntlet after being asked what he thought about Gordon Brown’s decision to break with prime ministerial protocol and join the campaign trail.

Speaking at the campaign launch at East Fife Football Club, where he was joined by SNP candidate Peter Grant, the First Minister said, “I will be delighted to welcome Gordon to the campaign trail and, who knows, we might meet up somewhere.

“I would be delighted to debate with the Prime Minister anywhere. I’ll do it on the park here at New Bayview if he wants.”

The SNP’s campaign will focus on a fair deal on energy bills this winter.

There will also be calls from the SNP to shift the focus from bailing out the banks to family budgets.

The party accused Mr Brown of scoring an own goal by failing to help families meet soaring gas and electricity bills.

Before the launch got under way, however, Mr Salmond and Mr Grant had to dodge campaigners protesting against increases in home care charges in Fife.

Members of Campaign Against Charges later secured a 25-minute meeting with the first minister and Mr Grant, the present Fife Council leader, and challenged them to use Fife as a pilot for free home care, a suggestion rejected by Mr Salmond.

Unveiling their key pledges, the SNP proposed measures including the suspension of VAT on domestic energy to help households this winter, a £100 payment to all of Scotland’s pensioners to meet rising fuel bills and a cut in tax to 5% on insulation and energy efficiency measures.

Mr Salmond said, “The SNP is fighting a strong campaign to win in Glenrothes. The SNP is on your side and is working hard to support Fife families as they feel the pressure on household budgets.

“We are working hard to support families in Fife through these difficult times...

“People... are seeing banks being propped up and bailed out by the UK Government but little support to help them meet their energy bills.

“It’s important that we move beyond stabilising the financial sector to help the real economy and focus on families to help them meet the rising cost of fuel bills.”

Mr Grant added, “People are telling me the one thing they are worried about is how they are going to pay their bills.

“Inflation for people on low incomes is between 10% and 15% and my first task when I win this election will be to press the Westminster Government to give people protection against massive fuel bills coming through their doors.”