Next week's Scottish elections are expected to attract a turn out of less than 50 per cent.

All the parties are reported to have found it difficult to persuade voters not to abstain.

In Wales the resignation of Ron Davies and the resurgence of Plaid Cymru has meant that Labour is not confident of large gains in the assembly elections, according to today's Times.

The FT carries an interview with Welsh secretary Peter Hain, who says that the war in Iraq has also "cast a shadow" over campaigning efforts.