Tony Blair launched a final attack on nationalism in his farewell speech to Labour activists in Scotland ahead of polling day and his departure from Number 10.
Pointing out that he was born in Edinburgh to an English father and Irish mother before spending most of his life in England he said:"This is the world today, and you know something? I think it's good."
His most withering attack on the SNP drew applause: "You can dress up petty nationalism however you want but it is, was and always will be disastrous in its consequences and reactionary in its soul."
He added that if returned as first minister, Jack McConnell would wake up every morning thinking about how to improve education and the economy, while "the other guy is going to get up saying 'how can I pick a fight with England today'".
He described the scenario as 'the dead-end politics of grievance not hope'.
Mr McConnell attacked the suggestion that if Scotland left the UK then at some point it could rejoin, mocking this as a 'hokey-cokey policy, not just a neverendum to get independence but then to get back in. In-out, in-out that would shake Scotland all about.' The prime minister had arrived in Scotland after revealing he will make a statement next week on his plans to leave No 10.
Tony Blair's announcement on breakfast TV came as June 30 emerged as the likely date for the hand-over to his successor.
Speaking on GMTV in an interview to mark his 10th anniversary in office, he said: "I will make my position clear next week. I will say something definitive then."
He also heaped praise on Chancellor Gordon Brown, saying that he would make 'a great prime minister'.
"One of the things I very much hope will be part of the legacy of the Government is the strongest economy in the Western world which he has been responsible for," he said.
"I have always said about him that he would make a great prime minister and I believe that."
Mr Blair is finally expected to endorse Mr Brown as his successor next week, amid signs that no other member of the Cabinet is now prepared to mount a bid for the leadership.
His comments came as it emerged that Mr Brown could take over at No 10 on June 30 after winning support at an electoral college attended by delegates from across the country.
A projected timetable is being distributed among MPs, officials and trade union leaders laying down the exact process of electing Mr Blair's successor.
Approximately 48 days after Mr Blair resigns, an electoral college will be held, almost certainly in London, attended by delegates from unions and other affiliated organisations, constituency Labour parties, and MPs and MEPs.
Union officials and other Labour Party figures are now working on the assumption that the college will be held on Saturday June 30, although it is possible it could be held on Sunday July 1.
Mr Blair is widely expected to resign on May 9 or 10 following this week's elections.
As Mr Blair arrived in Edinburgh to campaign alongside Mr McConnell the SNP leader Alex Salmond called on him to apologise for the Iraq war.
On the 10th anniversary of mr Blair becoming Prime Minister, Mr Salmond said 'overwhelmingly' the legacy issue facing Mr Blair is the current situation in Iraq.
He said: "This I anticipate is Mr Blair's last visit to Scotland as Prime Minister and I think this would be the appropriate occasion for him now to apologise to the people for the disaster that is Iraq."
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