By-Election, Glenrothes: Helping families with rising fuel and food prices became the focus of the Glenrothes by-election yesterday.

Helping families with rising fuel and food prices became the focus of the Glenrothes by-election yesterday.

All four main parties chose issues dealt with by the Scottish Parliament in their campaign to elect a new MP to Westminster.

The SNP visited a children's play centre to meet families and promote its £10m investment in expanding the free central heating programme, while the Tories repeated their call for a £150 council tax cut for families. Labour focused on opposition to the Scottish Futures Trust, and the LibDems on tackling underage drinking.

SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon, appearing with candidate Peter Grant, said: "At a time when Scottish households face rocketing fuel bills, this government is committed to doing all that it can, within the powers that are available, to tackle fuel poverty.

"The SNP government delivered a 62% increase in the number of central heating installations for pensioners in Fife in our first year in government.

"Now with extra investment and decisive action to include those young families facing fuel poverty in the central heating scheme, the SNP government is not only helping with their heating system but easing their energy bills and lifting the burden on their household budgets."

Annabel Goldie, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, campaigned with candidate Maurice Golden. She said: "We would use the government's efficiency savings to cut the council tax bill of every Scottish household by £150, meaning two million households - including 100% of Fife council taxpayers - would be better off and we would still plan to go even further with bigger cuts for our older pensioners.

"The SNP and Liberal Democrats want to introduce a new tax on work. Labour has nothing to offer - only the Scottish Conservatives are offering Fifers real help in these tough times."

Labour opted to campaign on the new Forth crossing, claiming the Scottish Futures Trust was delaying major projects, and called for an announcement on work to start to help commuters and business.

MSPs Andy Kerr and John Park joined their candidate, Lindsay Roy, to unveil a banner near the Forth Road Bridge warning of "Delays Ahead".

Mr Park said: "When the SNP government cancelled the Edinburgh Airport link, it was a blow to Fife holidaymakers and businesses.

"Jobs are being lost in traffic jams, while construction workers are being laid off due to cancelled and delayed projects under the SNP in Edinburgh. We need to know when the first spade will hit the ground. I fear that it will not happen in this parliament."

LibDem candidate Harry Wills revealed his alternative plan for tacking under-age drinking. He wants to introduce a system of invisible barcode label detection, to track alcohol confiscated from under-18s back to the retailer.

Mr Wills said: "The SNP have missed the point. If 18-21 year olds are banned from off-sales, a 22-year-old will simply buy it for them. We need to target the rogue retailers first, and then provide more for young people to do."