Alex Salmond underlined his confidence that the SNP would pull off another “by-election earthquake” today with a bullish prediction of victory on the eve of the Glenrothes poll.

Scotland’s First Minister staked his reputation on an SNP victory in the seat, despite predictions of a tight result from all parties as they entered the final hours of the campaign.

Asked if the SNP would overturn Labour’s 10,664-strong majority, Mr Salmond echoed the slogan used by Barack Obama during his US presidential election campaign: “Yes we can and yes we will.”

The SNP leader made his prediction of victory during his eleventh campaign visit to the constituency next to Gordon Brown’s seat of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath.

Labour made its final campaign push yesterday with an appearance from John Prescott, the former Deputy Prime Minister, who defended Labour’s record and attacked the SNP policy on home-care charges.

Mr Prescott joined Lindsay Roy, the Labour candidate and local head-master, to protest at increases brought in by the SNP-led Fife Council.

He praised Gordon Brown’s handling of the economic crisis, branding the Prime Minister “the man of the moment”, but he said that Labour had to “get out and convince people” in the constituency. Mr Prescott held aloft a card from the 1997 election campaign featuring his picture and a list of pledges on the economy, hospital waiting lists and class sizes.

“We delivered on that and I’m proud of that after ten years,” he said.

He later described Mr Salmond as a “cheeky chappy” and recalled how SNP votes at Westminster had helped to bring about the collapse of Jim Callaghan’s Government in the 1970s.

“When they tell us about their promises, I just go back to what they did to a Labour Government and the price we all paid – high unemployment and cuts in public services – simply because the SNP sought its own political interests,” he said.

Mr Salmond laughed off Mr Prescott’s gibe, saying: “It’s substantially nicer than what he used to say about Peter Mandelson.”

The SNP leader was joined by Peter Grant, the Nationalist candidate, against the backdrop of a giant saltire held aloft by supporters.

The nationalists used the final stage of the campaign to accuse Labour of waging a negative battle. They, meanwhile, revived the “Yes we can” slogan first used in their 1997 general election campaign and also used by Barack Obama in his US election victory.

Mr Grant said he believed that the Nationalists were currently ahead in the constituency. Senior SNP strategists claimed yesterday that they had the votes to win.

The SNP flooded the constituency with 1,200 party activists on the final weekend of the campaign, outnumbering Labour.

The party believes that it will have about 500 activists on the streets on polling day. Meanwhile Labour has drafted in organisers from across the UK to ensure that it maximises its vote.

The Prime Minister broke with convention to campaign in the by-election after being urged by party strategists to make a personal appeal to voters in what was once Labour’s heartland.

Mr Brown’s wife, Sarah, also took to the campaign trail several times in an attempt to bolster her husband’s position.

Senior Labour sources claimed yesterday that they had closed the gap with the SNP: “They began this campaign well ahead, but we have run them very close. People have responded well to Gordon and to Sarah, particularly in the outlying parts of the constituency.”

Both Labour and the SNP claimed that the Liberal Democrats and the Tories would be squeezed in what is a tight two-horse race.

Harry Wills, the Lib Dem candidate, maintained yesterday, however, that he still has a chance of victory.

He said: “We started finding about ten days ago that we were attracting SNP voters who were disenchanted with the SNP government at Holyrood and Labour voters who were disenchanted with Labour in total.”

Maurice Golden, the Conservative candidate, said that the best way to send Mr Brown “a message” was to vote Tory, although he conceded that it would be an “uphill battle” for him to win the seat. “We are fighting for every single vote,” he said.

Election battleground

The candidates in today’s by-election are:

Morag Balfour SSP

Maurice Golden, left, C

Peter Grant, right, SNP

Lindsay Roy Lab

Kris Seunarine UKIP

Harry Wills Lib Dem

Louise McLeary Solidarity

Jim Parker Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party

Labour won Glenrothes at the 2005 election with a majority of 10,664. Labour polled 19,395, the SNP 8,731, the Lib Dems 4,728 and the Conservatives 2,651 The SNP won Central Fife, the corresponding constituency for the Scottish Parliament, last year with a majority of 1,166

Times Recommends

• UK regional accents thrive against the odds
• ‘Scarecrow’ wind farms put rare birds to flight
• What an anti-climax: G-spot is a myth