Job one word, short and to the point, and delivered almost before the question is over.
That’s the big issue bothering the voters in Gordon Brown’s Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency.
Stepping away from the “big” political ideas that will no doubt fill pages of newsprint and take up hours of primetime TV over the coming weeks, the man who has represented this area of Fife for the best part of three decades said that is the key issue locally and one that is a key element in Labour’s campaign to secure votes.
This was the first weekend of the election campaign and one the prime minister had chosen to spend among his “ain folk,” first in his home town of Kirkcaldy and then in Lochgelly and Cowdenbeath.
With much regret, he admitted he would not be heading with the Raith Rovers fans to Hampden for their Scottish Cup semi-final clash with Dundee United.
It was only early morning and already the campaign trail had meandered badly off its tight schedule. However, during a quick stop to thank party workers and volunteers in his Cowdenbeath campaign office, Mr Brown found time for a brief chat with The Courier.
What Labour could deliver for the electorate was a commitment to jobs and training, he said.
“It is so important we come out of this period with more jobs, a strong recovery and better prospects for our young people.
“Labour is making a guarantee to young people to help them get into work and helping school leavers get better qualifications. This is all so we can have a highly skilled group of future workers and it will be done by the investment made in education.”
At the same time he believed this area of the east coast of Scotland was in a prime position to capitalise on the potential investment and subsequent jobs created by the renewable energy industry.
Last month Chancellor Alistair Darling unveiled a green investment bank to stimulate billions of pounds of private finance for low carbon industries such as offshore wind farms.
Mr Brown reiterated the message at the weekend that offshore wind power development was good news for the east coast.
“Forty years ago oil started to flow from the North Sea,” he said. “That showed Britain could lead the world and now we can do the same and lead the world with offshore wind power and, of course, that could see jobs for Fife and the east coast.
“There is already great work being done at Methil and the energy park there.”
Further along the coast lies Longannet power station where a ScottishPower-led consortium has won through to the final stages of the UK Government’s carbon capture and storage competition.
“Our big project is carbon capture and storage. It makes all sorts of other things possible,” the prime minister added.
“I am looking forward to Fife building a lot of jobs and indeed the whole of this region up to Tayside and Aberdeen.
“It is a big opportunity.”
Turning to Tayside, Mr Brown praised the role of Dundee in the life sciences sector.
“Dundee is leading the world in life sciences,” he said. “That spins off into the rest of the economy and we have high quality creative resources.”
Finally Mr Brown sent out a message to those still undecided about where to cast their vote come May 6.
He said, “Labour is the party who is best for the future of the NHS and schools, who is best for the future of policing.
“It is the party for jobs, for young people’s qualifications, who is best for the economy and keeping it moving forward.
“Look at that and then make a final decision. See it as a choice for the future I think people will see that is the Labour party.”