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Resist urge to punish me says PM | Resist urge to punish me says PM |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Tony Blair has urged voters to resist the temptation to give him one final "kicking" in May's Scottish elections. | Tony Blair has urged voters to resist the temptation to give him one final "kicking" in May's Scottish elections. |
The prime minister said he would be gone soon but Scotland would have to live with the "consequences" of an SNP government for many years. | The prime minister said he would be gone soon but Scotland would have to live with the "consequences" of an SNP government for many years. |
But Nationalist leader Alex Salmond hit back saying on what would be his last visit to Scotland as PM, Mr Blair should apologise for the war in Iraq. | |
He added that two thirds of Scots did not trust the Labour leader. | |
In a speech during a visit to Glasgow, Mr Blair argued that times had changed since 1997 and the onset of devolution, and the case for the Union, had to be made in a different way. | |
He accused the SNP of copying Labour, which held a referendum before going ahead with devolution for Scotland. | He accused the SNP of copying Labour, which held a referendum before going ahead with devolution for Scotland. |
This is one of Tony Blair's last visits to Scotland while still in office, and he should take the opportunity to apologise for the war in Iraq Alex SalmondSNP leader | |
"They mean to get independence the same way," said Mr Blair. | "They mean to get independence the same way," said Mr Blair. |
He said the SNP "know that if they can hold it three or four years down the line" it would give them a chance of "stoking up enough conflict with Westminster" to create a sense of grievance and make Scotland feel it had "no option" but to go with independence in a referendum. | He said the SNP "know that if they can hold it three or four years down the line" it would give them a chance of "stoking up enough conflict with Westminster" to create a sense of grievance and make Scotland feel it had "no option" but to go with independence in a referendum. |
Mr Blair warned: "From day one, from May 4, an SNP government would start the instability. | Mr Blair warned: "From day one, from May 4, an SNP government would start the instability. |
"Scotland would be on a track to separation. The SNP would be in the driver's cab with every intention of getting there. | "Scotland would be on a track to separation. The SNP would be in the driver's cab with every intention of getting there. |
"That is their reason for being. People might believe you can stop it but the SNP will be doing their best to keep it on track. | "That is their reason for being. People might believe you can stop it but the SNP will be doing their best to keep it on track. |
"Put it like this - if you really don't believe in independence, then voting SNP is at the very least a crazy risk to take." | "Put it like this - if you really don't believe in independence, then voting SNP is at the very least a crazy risk to take." |
'Say sorry' | |
However, Mr Salmond was keen to remind Mr Blair of his role in starting the war in Iraq. | |
The SNP leader said: "Four years on from this illegal and unnecessary war, it is clear that the quagmire in Iraq will be Tony Blair's legacy. | |
"The death toll continues to mount - both our own troops and Iraqi civilians. | |
"A Red Cross report this week concluded that the situation for ordinary Iraqis is getting steadily worse." | |
He added: "This is one of Tony Blair's last visits to Scotland while still in office, and he should take the opportunity to apologise for the war in Iraq. | |
"After all of the carnage and chaos, the least he can do is say sorry, which would help to draw a line under this bleak chapter." |
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