Eddie Barnes: General Election cliche alert pt 1

THE UK parties' general election slogans, which got their first outing earlier this week, have already come in for a bit of criticism from some quarters. But at least they have the merit of being different.

At the weekend, newspapers in Scotland received three different press releases from Labour, the Tories and the SNP. First there was the Conservative Shadow Secretary David Mundell. Releasing flattering polling data on Scots' attitudes to his party, he said this proved the Tories were Labour's main Scottish opponent. "People clearly realise it is a two horse race between David Cameron's strong and united Conservatives and this tired and failing Labour Government," he declared. Not so, declared the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon a few hours later "The reality is that the general election in Scotland will be a two-horse race between the SNP and Labour," she said. Hang on, that's three horses now isn't it? No, shot back Labour a few minutes later. "The next general election is a two horse race between Labour and the Tories." Good, that's settled then.

Please, enough already. Yes, Scotland's political landscape is crowded. Yes, you need to clear the field of parties which might nick your vote. But at the very least, ditch the two-horse cliche. What about "head to head" or "toe to toe"? Or maybe dramatic references to a duel to the death? If Steamie readers have any better ideas, the parties need your help.