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PM and Swinney address delegates Brown makes strong Union defence
(about 3 hours later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney will address the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) in Inverness later. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has used his speech to trades unionists in Inverness to mount a strong defence of the Union.
More than 350 delegates from 37 trade unions will attend the annual event, which is the first since the election of the SNP government last May. He said Scotland and England were "stronger together and weaker apart".
The agenda will include public sector reform and human trafficking. Mr Brown also told delegates at the STUC conference that being part of the UK brought major benefits, both to Scots workers and businesses.
But the STUC expects the biggest interest to be in motions on hospital car parking and pension schemes. He said shipbuilding and financial services industries were among those who benefited most from the ties.
First Minister Alex Salmond and the Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander will also address delegates. Mr Brown also used his speech to defend Labour's record on helping low income families.
The three-day event will be held at the city's Eden Court Theatre. He acknowledged the recent controversy surrounding the abolition of the 10p tax band, but insisted people affected were still better off under Labour.
More than 350 delegates from 37 trade unions are attending the Scottish Trades Union Congress' annual event, which is the first since the election of the SNP Government last May.
The three-day conference is being held at the city's Eden Court Theatre.