SHADOW Chancellor Ed Balls went on the stump in the Cowdenbeath by-election and urged Alex Salmond to abandon his demand for a TV debate with "English Tory" David Cameron.

Mr Balls urged the First Minister to sit down with Better Together campaign chief Alistair Darling and himself to discuss the SNP's plans for Scotland's future, particularly over currency.

Speaking in Lochgelly yesterday, Mr Balls said: "It seems to me that Alex Salmond is very unhappy with the prospect of debating with Alistair Darling and is therefore trying to claim an English Tory should come up and lead the campaign. That's not going to happen in anybody's world.

"If Alex Salmond had the courage of his convictions, he would sit down and talk to me and Alistair about whether he could keep the pound, and be straight with the Scottish people."

SNP Candidate Natalie McGarry was joined outside her former primary St John's School in the constituency by Sports Minister Shona Robison to highlight what the SNP was doing to improve Fife children's health. She said the party has said it will bring in free school meals for primaries one to three, saving at least £330 for every eligible child.

Ms McGarry said: "The early years of children's lives are so important when it comes to setting the healthy habits that can last a lifetime."

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said the SNP's record of failure in Fife shows why Cowdenbeath needs a LibDem to stand up for the area.

Scottish Conservative candidate Dave Dempsey said Labour and SNP were obsessed with each other. He said: "They've spent more time obsessing about each other and trying to land political punches than actually giving the voters what they want."