SNP snatches Labour website

Political parties are warming up for the general election, even before Tony Blair has named the big day.

And the Diary can reveal the first dirty trick of the campaign has been launched. Labour supporters north of the border might be disgruntled to discover that if they search for the party’s website at www.scottish-labour.org.uk, they end up on a page dedicated to the Scottish National Party.

One new media observer says that on further investigation, the site’s address was found to belong originally to the Labour Party – but was subsequently bought by an SNP party worker who thought it would be fun to play a little joke on his rivals. The gloves are off.