TONY BLAIR makes the first of several promised visits to Scotland today, in the hope of seeing off the electoral challenge posed by the SNP.

He is taking part in a Labour party event in Glasgow at which he will meet campaigners and activists with First Minister Jack McConnell.

Mr Blair is also expected to make a keynote speech in the city tomorrow.

He last visited Scotland in November when he warned in a speech to the Scottish Labour party of a constitutional "nightmare" if the SNP wins power in the Scottish elections in May. Since then, there has been little sign of Labour making significant headway.

And SNP leader Alex Salmond today mocks "Boomerang Blair", claiming the Labour leader is an asset to the Nationalist campaign.

A poll two weeks ago suggested the SNP was running at 33% in both constituency and regional list voting intentions, while Labour was running at 31% and 27%.

That would translate into 44 seats for the SNP, 41 for Labour and 23 for the Liberal Democrats - enough for the SNP and the Liberal Democrats to form a coalition, but leaving a Labour-LibDem coalition one short of a majority.

A Labour spokesman said the Scottish campaign visit was by "the most electorally successful leader the Labour party has had - three elections in a row and the party on course for a fourth under its next leader."

The spokesman said: "The Prime Minister will be in Scotland regularly between now and May.

"His conference speech in Oban set out the argument against the SNP.

"In coming weeks, Tony Blair will be setting out the strong and positive case for voting Labour in May.

"He has pledged to take an active role in the Scottish election, supporting Jack McConnell in delivering Labour's strong message of a strong and stable economy, delivering record investment in schools and hospitals, with more police and tough action on crime."