By Robbie Dinwoodie COMBATING knife crime is "right at the top of the agenda" for ordinary people, claimed Labour leader Iain Gray.

By Robbie Dinwoodie

COMBATING knife crime is "right at the top of the agenda" for ordinary people, claimed Labour leader Iain Gray.

As reported in last night's Evening Times he was campaigning in Greenock with John Muir, who lost his son to a stabbing.

Mr Gray said: "The SNP government and Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill have not done enough with their soft-touch approach.

"That is why Labour is calling for mandatory sentences for anyone caught using or carrying a knife."

Mr Muir's son, Damian, 34, died two years ago after an unprovoked attack in Greenock. He was stabbed eight times as he tried to flee Barry Gavin, who was later jailed for 15 years.

Duncan McNeil, Labour MSP for Inverclyde, who presented a 15,000-strong petition to parliament on behalf of Mr Muir, said: "The people of this community decided they would no longer tolerate the senseless violence that claimed the lives of young men like John's son Damian.

"That initial campaign achieved a great deal in terms of creating a knife inquiry in parliament but people want real action.

"I am sure people will sign up in numbers and send a message we're not giving up on the need for a tough stance on knife crime. The Scottish Government needs to make hard choices."

A government spokeswoman said: "We've seen jail terms for knife carrying have increase by a third while the Justice Secretary has made clear that those who use a knife should expect to go to jail."