LABOUR'S election co-ordinator Douglas Alexander has said Ukip could hurt the party's chances in 2015 - and compared the impact to that of the SNP.

Many Labour MPs are concerned about the inroads Ukip is making into some Labour-held seats.

In previous elections the party has considered Ukip a threat to the Conservatives.

But opinion polls now suggest Ukip is now taking support from Labour

Mr Alexander said:"After 30 years in the Labour party in Scotland where we saw a populist party of the right start by taking out Tory MPs and later take out Labour MSPs I can assure you I am the last person that needs to be convinced about the threat posed by Ukip, not just to Labour but to all political parties in the UK."