PM on the stump in Glenrothes

GORDON Brown today hit the campaign trail in Glenrothes in a bid to win over wavering voters and avoid a humiliating by-election defeat.

Labour sources say the SNP lead has fallen to around 2,000 votes as the Prime Minister has benefited politically from the economic crisis.

Today, Mr Brown and his wife Sarah rallied Labour troops in Glenrothes ahead of the by-election next Thursday. Labour insiders still doubt whether they can avoid losing the seat, which they held with a 10,664 majority.

On his second visit to the constituency, the Prime Minister was meeting voters and visiting two factories. He said: "Labour knows Scotland is stronger as part of the UK. The SNP's commitment to divorce Scotland from the UK would put too many jobs at risk."

The SNP took Glasgow East from Labour at a by-election in the summer.

Meanwhile, Labour has closed the gap with the Tories from 24 per cent to nine, according to a YouGov poll in The Daily Telegraph. The poll showed the Tories on 42 per cent, Labour on 33 and the Liberal Democrats unchanged on 15.