GUSTED FLUSH

Apr 1 2007

SO who is scared now, Eck? Alex Salmond's cheap shots about Jack McConnell being nervous about facing him rebounded yesterday.

Not only did the First Minister have the SNP leader on the ropes during the first televised debate of the election campaign - so did ordinary voters.

They were less impressed by his glib bluster than the pundits and pollsters predicting a historic SNP victory on May 3.

Salmond's trademark smirk looked slightly squeamish as he was pinned by straight questions demanding straight answers.

The wind has been gusting beneath his sails so far, as voters turn against Tony Blair and fuel claims of surging SNP support.

But Alex might just have felt the breeze changing yesterday.

The SNP better batten down the hatches. It is going to be a bumpy ride.