Edinburgh - Scotland's education minister, Mr Jack McConnell, seen as favourite to succeed Mr Henry McLeish as first minister, declared his candidacy yesterday.
Mr McLeish (53) resigned last week as head of the semi-autonomous Edinburgh government after a debilitating row over office expenses. Mr McConnell (40), who lost out to McLeish in his first attempt to become first minister last year, vowed to fight an "open and honest" campaign based on ideas and policies for Scotland.
"It is important that over the next few weeks the people of Scotland hear the ideas for Scotland and I intend to set out my vision over the next week," he said.