Alex Salmond yesterday predicted a "political earthquake" as the SNP launched its campaign for the Glasgow East by-election. The First Minister was on fighting form as he mocked the "disorganised" Labour bid.

Alex Salmond yesterday predicted a "political earthquake" as the SNP launched its campaign for the Glasgow East by-election.

Never a slave to modesty, the First Minister was on fighting form as he mocked the "disorganised" Labour bid and praised Councillor John Mason as his party's first-choice candidate for the seat.

Poverty and rising fuel costs were at the forefront of the Nationalist agenda, but speakers at the launch wasted few opportunities to lay into Labour, who - despite their 13,500 majority in the area - had been forced to delay the selection of a candidate to contest this month's by-election.

"As an east-end councillor I know the opportunities ahead for Glasgow East, but I also know the burden felt by families facing rising fuel, energy and food prices," said candidate John Mason.

"This is the chance for people in Glasgow East to elect an MP who is on their side, not out of touch like Labour."

Addressing the assembly at the Hub community centre, Mr Salmond made repeated reference to Labour's position as the last of the major parties to confirm a candidate, and likened the election - called after MP David Marshall retired on health grounds - to one of the ill-fated schemes on BBC comedy Blackadder.

He said: "The Labour Party set the context for this campaign, and I suspect its cunning plan was to catch the other parties on the hop.

But the state of their disorganisation is that they've ended up in a total mess themselves. Their idea is like Baldrick's cunning plan - it's exploded in the face of the Labour Party."

Unveiling the SNP's plans for Glasgow East, Mr Salmond promised that local people would feel the benefit as his party campaigned against rising fuel costs.

"An SNP win will drive Gordon Brown to cancel the 2p rise in fuel duty, to introduce a fuel duty regulator recycling the UK's record tax into lower costs for families, and to give Glasgow East a fair share of Scotland's oil wealth," he said.

East end residents gave a mixed response to the First Minister's promises.

Sitting for a hair appointment in a salon at Parkhead Cross, retiree Caterine Tiffney welcomed the promise to reduce her household fuel bill, but wanted to see more action taken to reduce crime and drug problems in the neighbourhood.

Mrs Tiffney, who admitted she did not often vote, said: "The east end of Glasgow is a disgrace, full of junkies. You go outside there and it's like the land of the living dead. I feel like the SNP would maybe does most for Scotland, though - I don't trust the rest of them."

Some voters in the traditionally Labour- dominated area - the party's third-safest seat in Scotland - indicated that their current dissatisfaction could change their allegiances.

Irene Riley, 50, a shop worker from Carntyne, said she had always voted Labour, but was ready for change.

"I always vote for Labour," she said, "but I can't really say whether they've been good for the area. I'm swithering this time - I'll maybe vote SNP, just for something different."

Mr Salmond said he appreciated the scale of the challenge ahead, but was confident the Nationalists could achieve the 22% swing they need for victory.

He said: "We're under no illusions about the task that's before us. But we've got the right candidate, the right campaign, and the right message. And that counts for a lot.

"There's a political earthquake on the way in Glasgow East. The fact that we're in with a chance, and everybody knows we're in with a chance, is a comment on how far things have moved in Scottish politics."