the dailymash

One said the move was vital to remind everyone that the party was not a broad-based operation with many talented figures within it but very much a one-man band.

The SNP has registered a number of descriptions it could use on ballot papers. These include:

• Alex Salmond (Glorious Leader, SNP, Liberator of the Working People)

• Alex Salmond (Eternal Leader, SNP, Our Saviour)

• Alex Salmond (Der Fuhrer, Scottische Nationalist Partie, Unser Held)

• Alex Salmond (Fret not, independence referendum parked, just give Labour a kicking)

• Alex Salmond (Vote for me, or the puppy gets it)

Jack McConnell, the outgoing Labour First Minister, accused the SNP of playing personality cult politics.

Addressing a torch lit procession of flame haired members of the Labour Youth he said: "I am an international statesman of world repute, friend to all the leaders of the free world, a man of stature on the global stage and I can tell you: I will never resort to presidential personality style politics." Mr McConnell left the rally in an open topped Mercedes flanked by motorcycle outriders.

However, it later emerged that Labour has adopted similar tactics to the SNP registering a number of its own ballot paper descriptions. These include:

• Jack McConnell (Not Tony Blair, never met him, never liked him)

• Jack McConnell (Look, I never started that bloody war did I?)

• Jack McConnell (For chrissake, it was nothing to do wi me, gi’ us a break will ye?)

• Jack McConnel (Vote for that smug Salmond git and you’ll all starve)