THEY have been taking pot shots at each other for years and the attacks have intensified since the general election kicked off.
But today senior Labour and the Conservatives politicians will do battle of a different kind when they face each other each other in a penalty shoot-out to help a motor neurone disease (MND) campaigner in his fight against the condition.
They will take to a football pitch in Edinburgh to show their support for Gordon Aikman, who launched a fight for more funding after being diagnosed with the incurable neurodegenerative disease last year.
His campaign, which calls for funding for MND research in the UK to be doubled, has so far raised more than £250,000.
Conservative leader David Cameron got behind his party's team for the Show MND The Red Card event, which will be refereed by Mr Aikman. He said: "All of us agree that we need to show MND the red card. Gordon Aikman is an inspiration. The impact of his incredible campaign will have a positive impact for generations to come."
Labour leader Ed Miliband said: "Whatever the result today, we all want to show MND the red card. Gordon's campaign is an inspiration to us all and we need to do all we can to make this disease a horrible part of history."
Mr Aikman, 30, added: "To see politicians put aside their differences to help people with MND means a lot."
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