The First Minister Alex Salmond clashed with his predecessor Jack McConnell as both men hit the by-election campaign trail in Glasgow on Tuesday.
The former Labour leader joined party candidate Willie Bain in Glasgow North East and accused the Nationalist Government of "ripping off" the city.
But Mr Salmond claimed that Labour was "out of ideas" as he joined SNP candidate David Kerr with just nine days left until voting. Tory leader Annabel Goldie and Liberal Democrat chief Tavish Scott were also campaigning.
Mr McConnell said Mr Bain is a man "in touch" with his community after recent question marks over the Nationalist candidate’s local credentials.
The former First Minister said: "The many hard-working Glaswegians I met today were born and brought up here like Willie Bain and deeply proud of this area. But they all were saying the same thing - the city is being ripped off and neglected by the SNP.
"When the nationalists said Glasgow would get special treatment from them, no-one thought they meant this. There is growing anger and Glasgow is fighting back."
Mr Salmond, meanwhile, was in the Robroyston area of the city as he joined Mr Kerr, a former BBC presenter, on the campaign trail.
Mr Salmond said: "Labour are out of ideas and - after 74 years in power in Glasgow North East - out of time. Instead of using this by-election to solve the problems facing local people, they are running a campaign devoid of serious debate and policy suggestions.
"Contrast this with the SNP. David Kerr is backed by a party who have taken action over the past two years to make a difference to Glasgow North East."
The SNP are hoping to repeat their victory in the neighbouring Glasgow East by-election last summer when they overturned a 13,500 majority to take the seat.
Ms Goldie and Tory candidate Ruth Davidson visited the Second Chance project which helps recovering drug addicts in Possilpark area of the city.Ms Goldie said: "It is projects like this that convinced me Scotland needed a fresh approach to tackling drug addiction."
Mr Scott joined Lib Dem candidate Eileen Baxendale at the Glasgow East Regeneration Agency (GERA) on Duke Street. They met senior staff and heard about the agency's work in helping improve areas of the constituency and getting more people into work.
The by-election came about after the resignation of former Commons speaker Michael Martin after the expenses scandal.
The candidates who will contest the Glasgow North East by-election are:
Charlie Baillie, British National Party
Willie Bain, Scottish Labour Party
Eileen Baxendale, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Mev Brown, Independent
Colin Campbell, The Individuals Labour and Tory (TILT)
Ruth Davidson, Scottish Conservative and Unionist
David Doherty, Scottish Green Party
Mikey Hughes
David Kerr, Scottish National Party (SNP)
Louise McDaid, Socialist Labour Party
Kevin McVey, Scottish Socialist Party – Make Greed History
Tommy Sheridan, Solidarity – Scotland’s Socialist Movement
John David Smeaton, Jury Team
