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Election 2017: Scottish Labour setting out pro-UK manifesto Election 2017: Scottish Labour 'guarantees' indyref2 opposition
(about 1 hour later)
Scottish Labour will never support independence, the party is set to confirm in its manifesto. Scottish Labour has said it will "never" support independence as it launched its manifesto for next month's general election.
The document, being revealed in Edinburgh, stated the Labour movement "offers the hope and the contemporary solutions to society's problems". Speaking at the event in Edinburgh, leader Kezia Dugdale gave a "cast-iron guarantee" that her party will oppose a second referendum.
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale accused the SNP government at Holyrood of prioritising independence over day-to-day governance. She accused the SNP of prioritising independence over education and health.
She called on the SNP to respect the verdict of the 2014 referendum. And she said Scotland was already divided enough - and did not want another "divisive" referendum,
In her manifesto foreword, Ms Dugdale wrote: "Labour is the only party which knows it is the power of the whole UK working in partnership which benefits the many, not the few - that is at the root of our belief that together we're stronger. Holding aloft her party manifesto, she told the gathering: "In these 120 pages you will find our cast iron guarantee that we will oppose a second independence referendum.
"That is why Labour opposes independence and a second divisive independence referendum. Independence is not the answer to dealing with Scotland's flagging economy or our pressured public services." "The Labour Party, built on solidarity and co-operation, could never support taking our country down a divisive path like that again - our country is divided enough."
The manifesto states that another vote on independence is "unwanted and unnecessary", and with Labour pledging to "campaign tirelessly to ensure that Scotland remains part of the UK". The manifesto states that Scotland would face a £15bn deficit if the UK were to be "torn apart", which it says would hurt the poorest and most vulnerable in society.
"The SNP needs to respect the verdict of the majority of Scots in 2014 and abandon its divisive plan to re-run the referendum," it says. It goes on to say: "The SNP needs to respect the verdict of the majority of Scots in 2014 and abandon its divisive plan to re-run the referendum.
'Transformative change' "It needs to get on with the day job and reverse the cuts being inflicted on Scotland's public services. Scottish Labour will never support independence, because we believe that together we're stronger."
The manifesto also features a series of pledges aimed at delivering "transformative change" in Scotland - many of which are the responsibility of the Scottish Parliament rather than Westminster.
These include;
Ms Dugdale said: "This is a manifesto in the finest traditions of the Labour movement, and it starts with some very simple principles.
"Power and wealth in our country are concentrated in too few hands, and for Scotland to succeed each and every one of us has to do well.
"And whatever the challenges that are thrown at us we are better tackling them together because together we are stronger."
She said that her party offered voters a "clear choice" and the opportunity to "reject the divisive policies of the SNP and the Tories", who she said were still acting like the "nasty party" under Theresa May.
Ms Dugdale told voters: "You can reject a second independence referendum and hard Brexit and you can vote for a positive and hopeful plan for Scotland and the United Kingdom."
Two-horse race
Scottish Labour's focus on its opposition to independence comes as both the SNP and the Scottish Conservatives have sought to define the election as a two-horse race between their parties.Scottish Labour's focus on its opposition to independence comes as both the SNP and the Scottish Conservatives have sought to define the election as a two-horse race between their parties.
The Tories, who have squeezed Ms Dugdale's party into third place, have repeatedly led their campaigning on a hardline message of opposing another referendum. The Tories, who squeezed Ms Dugdale's party into third place in the most recent Holyrood and council elections, have repeatedly led their campaigning on a hardline message of opposing another referendum.
Scottish Labour's manifesto will also include a series of pledges aimed at delivering "transformative change" in Scotland. Labour's UK manifesto also confirmed it opposed an independence referendum despite leader Jeremy Corbyn previously saying it would be wrong for Westminster to block a vote if the Scottish Parliament called for one.
These include commitments to bring forward Member's Bills on banning MSPs from holding paid second jobs, extending breakfast clubs into every primary school, banning onshore fracking, improving access to sanitary products to tackle "period poverty" and scrapping the Offensive Behaviour at Football Act. Writing in the manifesto foreword, Mr Corbyn said independence would inflict "turbo-charged austerity on the Scottish people", and said that nationalism does not offer hope or solutions to society's problems.
Scottish Labour won one Scottish seat in the 2015 General Election. The Scottish Conservatives launched their manifesto last week, with the SNP due to do the same on Tuesday.
Labour's UK manifesto also confirmed it opposed an independence referendum.
UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has previously said it would be wrong for Westminster to block a second referendum if the Scottish Parliament voted in favour of one.
Writing in the manifesto foreword, Mr Corbyn said: "In Scotland, child poverty is increasing, the number of those working but still classified as poor is at its highest level since devolution, and health inequalities stubbornly persist. Rather than tackle poverty, the SNP obsesses over another reckless referendum that threatens people's futures.
"Labour is opposed to independence because it would inflict turbo-charged austerity on the Scottish people. We will stand firm in our opposition to a second referendum because we know that together we're stronger and unity is still our strength.
"Historically, it has been the solidarity and common endeavour of our Labour and trade union movement that has transformed the lives of the many, not the few, in our great country.
"Just as it has always been the case, only our movement offers the hope and the contemporary solutions to society's problems. Nationalism, in whatever form, does not."
The Scottish Conservatives, who launched their manifesto last week, will be campaigning in the south of Scotland to promote the new Borderlands Growth Deal.
The SNP will launch its manifesto on Tuesday.