First minister Jack McConnell

The Scottish Labour conference has heard calls for unity ahead of the Holyrood elections in May.

First minister Jack McConnell, Scottish secretary Helen Liddell and Labour chairman John Reid all combined to ask delegates to put aside differences over Iraq and campaign together for an overall majority in the Edinburgh parliament.

With splits in the party set to hamper the campaign, the conference was cut short as Tony Blair cancelled his visit.

McConnell used his speech on Friday to launch a campaign which put "respect for community back on the agenda".

This includes a re-affirmation of his campaign to end sectarian hatred and violence - particularly in Glasgow - and a controversial identity card scheme to clamp down on law and order.

The conference decided that electoral reform in local government could get also the backing of the Scottish Labour Party in a bid to continue the coalition with Liberal Democrats in the Scottish Executive in the event of another hung parliament.

Although proportional representation was rejected by Scottish party chairman Richard Leonard at the conference in Dundee, ministers accept that the issue will be raised in almost inevitable coalition talks after the election, with Labour unlikely to win the outright victory that they seek.

Liddell told delegates on Saturday to take the message to the voters that Labour was "delivering in government" both at Westminster and Holyrood.

On the theme of crime she praised the Proceeds of Crime Act as a "gutsy, focussed piece of legislation".

Warning against the low turnout that could hit Labour's chances of success, the Scottish secretary encouraged activists to tell the electorate to treasure democracy as a "jewel beyond price".

"Take democracy to the towns and cities, the hamlets and village halls," she said.

Reid addressed the Iraq issue in a controversial, behind closed doors question and answer session.

He said critics of war had to "face the moral consequences of their choice as well".

The party chairman then went on to chastise Labour's nationalist and Conservative opponents.

"The nationalists will threaten the improvements Labour has made for people in Scotland by their dogma on independence, their inexperience and the risks they will run for political gain," he said.

He added: "While the Tories want to cut public spending to pay for tax cuts for a privileged few, the Nationalists would be forced to cut investment in public services and put up taxes in order to pay for the costs of divorce and their endless uncosted promises."