Labour and the Scottish National Party have clashed over the state of Scotland's economy.

During his first campaigning trip Gordon Brown claimed the country was closer to full employment than at any time in the past 40 years.

However, the SNP claimed that 24,000 Scottish jobs were lost during 2002, a "huge embarrassment" for the government.

In an interview with today's Guardian, David McLetchie, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, says: "We have found a voice in Scottish politics we didn't have before."