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Salmond unveils SNP Holyrood plan | Salmond unveils SNP Holyrood plan |
(about 10 hours later) | |
Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond is to unveil his party's policy programme for the first 100 days of government, should they win power. | Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond is to unveil his party's policy programme for the first 100 days of government, should they win power. |
Addressing the SNP conference in Glasgow, Mr Salmond will say that he will seek a constructive relationship with the UK Government in London. | |
But he will reaffirm his commitment to an independence referendum within the four-year Scottish Parliament term. | But he will reaffirm his commitment to an independence referendum within the four-year Scottish Parliament term. |
However, the Chancellor said the SNP's policies were not properly thought out. | |
Mr Salmond said the SNP had an unprecedented momentum ahead of the poll on 3 May. | |
Overall majority | |
On Saturday, Nationalists received a boost when the leading Scottish businessman Brian Souter announced he was donating £500,000 to the SNP election campaign. | On Saturday, Nationalists received a boost when the leading Scottish businessman Brian Souter announced he was donating £500,000 to the SNP election campaign. |
It came after the former chair of the Bank of Scotland, Sir George Mathewson, voiced his support for Scottish independence. | |
However, in a newspaper interview, Chancellor Gordon Brown said: "I don't hear the current leaders of the financial services industry repeating these things." | |
Although the SNP are ahead in the opinion polls, because of the voting system in Scotland it is unlikely that any party will have an overall majority after the elections. | Although the SNP are ahead in the opinion polls, because of the voting system in Scotland it is unlikely that any party will have an overall majority after the elections. |
Gordon Brown emphasised Labour's record on employment | |
If the SNP is the largest group, Mr Salmond knows he will have to enter talks with other parties. | If the SNP is the largest group, Mr Salmond knows he will have to enter talks with other parties. |
He is expected to tell conference delegates he wants constructive dialogue. | |
But he will reassure activists of his commitment to holding a referendum on Scottish independence within the first four-year term of an SNP-led administration. | But he will reassure activists of his commitment to holding a referendum on Scottish independence within the first four-year term of an SNP-led administration. |
However, the Chancellor, tipped by many to take over from Prime Minister Tony Blair when he steps down later this year, attacked the Nationalists. | |
He said there were holes in the party's plans to replace the council tax with a new local income tax. | |
The SNP revealed details of the scheme earlier this week, but Mr Brown said they had "fallen apart" when asked if it would apply to unearned income. | |
'More prosperity' | |
"They have fallen apart on spending because we have shown in great detail how all the spending commitments of the SNP just do not add up," he said. | |
Mr Brown also stressed his party's record on employment, saying there were a quarter of a million more Scots in work now compared to 10 years ago. | |
He said: "The Scottish National Party is about grudge and grievance. | |
"What people want are more jobs, more prosperity and better public services, not the grievances of the SNP. | |
"Labour is the party of jobs, not the party of chips on the shoulder." |