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General election 2017: Darling urges voters to reject indyref2 General election 2017: Sturgeon says vote about independence support
(35 minutes later)
The former head of the Better Together campaign has urged voters to reject the SNP's calls for a second independence referendum. Nicola Sturgeon has said the general election is largely about whether people support or oppose independence.
Alistair Darling, who served as chancellor in Gordon Brown's Labour government, also said it was the only party with a record of cutting poverty. The SNP leader was speaking during a visit to a nursery in Aberdeenshire, where she said only her party could stop Theresa May having a "free hand".
But the SNP said Labour was likely to "disappear into political oblivion" at the election. Meanwhile, former Better Together head Alistair Darling has urged voters to reject calls for a second referendum.
And the Conservatives said a Labour win would cause "chaos" for the UK. And the Conservatives repeated their calls for Ms Sturgeon to "focus on the day job".
Lord Darling has been campaigning in the Edinburgh South seat which was won by Labour's only Scottish MP, Ian Murray, at the last general election in 2015. Ms Sturgeon said in an interview with STV last month that the election "is not deciding whether or not Scotland is independent."
But during a visit to Dreams Daycare nursery in Insch on Monday, the first minister acknowledged that "the issue at the heart of this election is whether you support independence or oppose independence".
She added: "Surely that decision should be taken by people in Scotland, by the Scottish people and the Scottish Parliament, and not by a Tory government at Westminster."
Ms Sturgeon, who was campaigning alongside Alex Salmond, highlighted the "stark contrast" between her party's investment in childcare and the prime minister's cuts to child tax credits.
The Scottish government currently provides 16 hours a week of free childcare for three and four-year-olds and vulnerable two-years-olds, and has pledged increase this to 30 hours by 2020.
Ms Sturgeon said: "We've got to make sure that there's a check on the Tories, that there's strong opposition and strong voices for Scotland standing up for progressive policies like this one, and that in Scotland can only come from the SNP."
The nursery visit came after Prime Minister Theresa May visited the north-east of Scotland at the weekend, when she issued an appeal to Scottish voters who oppose independence.
Mrs May said: "We want to ensure that we build a more secure and united nation. That means taking action against the extremists who would divide us and standing up against the separatists who want to break up our country."
Ms Sturgeon warned the Conservatives to "watch their language" and accused Labour of focusing on independence due to a lack of positive policies, after Lord Darling called on the SNP to rule out a second independence referendum.
Achievements in government
Lord Darling, who served as chancellor in Gordon Brown's Labour government, was campaigning in the Edinburgh South seat which was won by Labour's only Scottish MP, Ian Murray, at the last general election in 2015.
The visit came on the 20th anniversary of Labour winning the 1997 election under Tony Blair - and ahead of the forthcoming general election on 8 June.The visit came on the 20th anniversary of Labour winning the 1997 election under Tony Blair - and ahead of the forthcoming general election on 8 June.
Lord Darling highlighted Labour's achievements in government, including lifting 120,000 children out of poverty in Scotland, introducing the national minimum wage and introducing tax credits for those on low pay.Lord Darling highlighted Labour's achievements in government, including lifting 120,000 children out of poverty in Scotland, introducing the national minimum wage and introducing tax credits for those on low pay.
He said: "Labour's proud record shows what can be achieved when a government focuses on the day job.He said: "Labour's proud record shows what can be achieved when a government focuses on the day job.
"The priority of a Labour government is always to grow the economy, create jobs, lift people out of poverty and give everybody a fair chance in life, not seeking to divide the country.""The priority of a Labour government is always to grow the economy, create jobs, lift people out of poverty and give everybody a fair chance in life, not seeking to divide the country."
'Divided enough' But he conceded that the best result Labour can realistically achieve in the general election is to be a "sizeable opposition" to the Conservatives.
Asked if he endorsed Jeremy Corbyn, Lord Darling said: "Well, he is the leader. He's the leader for the next, you know, right up until the general election.
"You know where I stand on that. My view is we need to get on. We're fighting in a general election campaign. You know, leaders come and go."
Lord Darling also called on voters to back Labour on 8 June in order to "send Nicola Sturgeon a message that Scotland doesn't want or need another divisive referendum".Lord Darling also called on voters to back Labour on 8 June in order to "send Nicola Sturgeon a message that Scotland doesn't want or need another divisive referendum".
He added: "The choice in British politics now isn't the old left-right, it is now dividing along nationalistic lines, whether it is Brexit nationalists and Scottish nationalists, against the majority who I believe want to see a sensible outcome."He added: "The choice in British politics now isn't the old left-right, it is now dividing along nationalistic lines, whether it is Brexit nationalists and Scottish nationalists, against the majority who I believe want to see a sensible outcome."
Lord Darling argued that these people wanted to "look outwards and expand horizons", and to ensure that we "leave a country which future generations will benefit from."
Responding to Lord Darling, an SNP spokesman said: "While the Labour party is expected to almost disappear into political oblivion at the general election, it is only a vote for the SNP that can stop the Tories and ensure Scotland's voice is heard in Westminster.
"Labour should also be concentrating on stopping the Tories - by pandering to the Tories they are letting down voters in this election.
"The fact they are reduced to parroting Tory slogans and reminiscing about elections 20 years ago shows how utterly irrelevant Labour have become."
The Scottish Conservative candidate for Edinburgh South West, Miles Briggs, said that Labour was hoping to "sell pro-UK Scots down the river" by doing a deal with the SNP after the election.The Scottish Conservative candidate for Edinburgh South West, Miles Briggs, said that Labour was hoping to "sell pro-UK Scots down the river" by doing a deal with the SNP after the election.
'Down the river'
Mr Briggs said: "Labour may think wheeling out Alistair Darling will convince voters they are strong on Scotland's place in the union.Mr Briggs said: "Labour may think wheeling out Alistair Darling will convince voters they are strong on Scotland's place in the union.
"But they know Jeremy Corbyn is itching to do a deal with the SNP that would sell pro-UK Scots down the river."But they know Jeremy Corbyn is itching to do a deal with the SNP that would sell pro-UK Scots down the river.
"Labour would return the UK to chaos, and turn their back on the two million Scots who voted No in 2014. "Labour would return the UK to chaos, and turn their back on the two million Scots who voted No in 2014."
Elsewhere on the election trail, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon campaigned alongside her predecessor, Alex Salmond, in Aberdeenshire, where they highlighted the "stark contrast" between their party's investment in childcare and the prime minister's cuts to child tax credits. Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson was at St Abbs lifeboat station in the south east of Scotland, where she repeated her calls for the SNP to forget about an independence referendum and instead focus on the "day job" of running schools and hospitals.
The Scottish government currently provides 16 hours a week of free childcare for three- and four-years-olds and vulnerable two-years-olds, and has pledged increase this to 30 hours by 2020. Elsewhere, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie joined some of the party's council election candidates and activists in Perthshire and Bridge of Allan.
On a visit to Dreams Daycare nursery in Insch, Ms Sturgeon said: "We've got to make sure that there's a check on the Tories, that there's strong opposition and strong voices for Scotland standing up for progressive policies like this one, and that in Scotland can only come from the SNP."
'Obsessive pursuit'
Meanwhile, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson was at St Abbs lifeboat station in the south east of Scotland, where she again called on the SNP to forget about an independence referendum and instead focus on the "day job" of running schools and hospitals.
And Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie joined some of the party's council election candidates and activists in Perthshire and Bridge of Allan.
During the visit, Mr Rennie highlighted the "great work" that Liberal Democrat councillors do to help their local communities.During the visit, Mr Rennie highlighted the "great work" that Liberal Democrat councillors do to help their local communities.
Mr Rennie also accused Ms Sturgeon and the SNP of treating the north east of Scotland as a "cash cow" and of neglecting the area during their "obsessive pursuit of independence". Mr Rennie said: "Alistair Darling knows that Jeremy Corbyn is incapable of providing a strong opposition to this Hard Brexit Conservative government.
He added: "This election is a chance to change the direction of our country and put an end to the SNP's obsession with independence. A vote for the Scottish Liberal Democrats is a vote for a party that will put local needs first for the whole of Scotland." "It is only the Liberal Democrats who stood up when it counted, Labour cowered in the corner."
Voters will go to the polls in the council election on Thursday.