Voters have been urged to stop the UK Independence Party from gaining its first parliamentarian in Scotland on the eve of the European elections.
Both Labour and the Liberal Democrats also attacked the SNP, stating that both it and Nigel Farage’s party offered a “false choice” over Europe.
The SNP insisted the fight for the sixth and final seat in the European Parliament was a contest between its candidate Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh and Ukip.
Labour’s shadow chancellor Ed Balls, speaking from the campaign trail in Paisley, Renfrewshire, said: “With these European elections the turnout is often not as high as in local or general elections but we want to see Labour building upon the excellent work of two Scottish MEPs, Catherine Stihler and David Martin, with a third seat.
“The important thing for voters to know is that if you’re voting for the SNP then you’re voting for confusion over Europe, and if you’re voting for Nigel Farage, well you’re voting for walking away from the biggest single market and electing the heir to Margaret Thatcher, and I think both of those are false choices.”
Liberal Democrat and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander has been campaigning in the Highlands.
He claimed the European elections are a chance to send a message to the Scottish Government to stop “ignoring” the north.
Mr Alexander accused the SNP of being an “Edinburgh, Nationalist elite”, out of touch with local wishes.
He added: “The SNP and Ukip offer a false choice in this election.
“Although very different parties, their plans to pull us out of the UK and wrench us out of the EU would have exactly the same damaging effect on Scotland and our economy.”
SNP leader and first minister Alex Salmond said: “The contest for Scotland’s sixth seat is between Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh and Nigel Farage’s Ukip, and people of all political shades who want to stop Ukip can play their part and back Tasmina and the SNP in Thursday’s vote.
“It is a contest between the new Scotland of hope and ambition that welcomes those who wish to come here and contribute to our society – and the appalling politics of intolerance being peddled by Nigel Farage’s Ukip.
“A vote for the SNP is a vote for a team of MEPs who will stand up for Scotland in Europe and work with our European neighbours to deliver more progress for Scotland.”
Scotland will elect six MEPs in Thursday’s election with votes being counted on Sunday. At present, the SNP and Labour both have two while the Lib Dems and Conservatives have one each.