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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Salmond aims high on growth rates | Salmond aims high on growth rates |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| SNP leader Alex Salmond has said he wanted Scottish economic growth rates to match the UK if his party won power at Holyrood in May. | SNP leader Alex Salmond has said he wanted Scottish economic growth rates to match the UK if his party won power at Holyrood in May. |
| Under independence, he would establish a growth target of 4% - an additional £19bn in the economy over 10 years. | Under independence, he would establish a growth target of 4% - an additional £19bn in the economy over 10 years. |
| However, Scottish Labour said the SNP's economic policy failed to stand up to any scrutiny. | However, Scottish Labour said the SNP's economic policy failed to stand up to any scrutiny. |
| Mr Salmond set out his plans for the Scottish economy at a business breakfast in Edinburgh. | Mr Salmond set out his plans for the Scottish economy at a business breakfast in Edinburgh. |
| The Banff and Buchan MP also claimed that a letter he received from Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander included an admission that Scotland's growth rate was "disappointing". | The Banff and Buchan MP also claimed that a letter he received from Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander included an admission that Scotland's growth rate was "disappointing". |
| "I think disappointing is a euphemism," he said. | "I think disappointing is a euphemism," he said. |
| "Over the last 10 years we've been growing at about 2% while the UK economy - not the fastest growing economy in the world - has been growing at 2.8%." | "Over the last 10 years we've been growing at about 2% while the UK economy - not the fastest growing economy in the world - has been growing at 2.8%." |
| I want to see Scotland's growth higher than it is today - that's our target Jack McConnellScottish Labour leader | I want to see Scotland's growth higher than it is today - that's our target Jack McConnellScottish Labour leader |
| Mr Salmond said that, under a four-year plan, the SNP aimed to raise performance in economic growth up to the UK average of 2.5% to 3%. | Mr Salmond said that, under a four-year plan, the SNP aimed to raise performance in economic growth up to the UK average of 2.5% to 3%. |
| "We can no longer afford in Scotland to lag behind what's happening elsewhere," he added. | "We can no longer afford in Scotland to lag behind what's happening elsewhere," he added. |
| The SNP claimed their growth plan under independence would equate to an additional £10,000 for every family in Scotland. | The SNP claimed their growth plan under independence would equate to an additional £10,000 for every family in Scotland. |
| The Nationalists plan to make year-on-year efficiency savings of 1.5%. | The Nationalists plan to make year-on-year efficiency savings of 1.5%. |
| In total, along with the cancellation of projects like the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link, they plan to release £4.3bn in resources. | In total, along with the cancellation of projects like the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link, they plan to release £4.3bn in resources. |
| Speaking on a visit to a skills employment scheme in Bathgate, Scottish Labour leader Jack McConnell expressed his aspiration to build up Scotland's success with greater levels of skills, education and prosperity for hard-working families. | Speaking on a visit to a skills employment scheme in Bathgate, Scottish Labour leader Jack McConnell expressed his aspiration to build up Scotland's success with greater levels of skills, education and prosperity for hard-working families. |
| "The SNP have proven again that their sums don't add up," he told BBC Scotland. | "The SNP have proven again that their sums don't add up," he told BBC Scotland. |
| Mr Salmond said Scotland's economic growth was lagging behind | |
| "They haven't thought through the economic impact of their policies, they can't answer the basic questions and they would threaten the prosperity of hard-working families the length and breadth of Scotland." | "They haven't thought through the economic impact of their policies, they can't answer the basic questions and they would threaten the prosperity of hard-working families the length and breadth of Scotland." |
| The First Minister said Scotland had secured a higher level of employment than the rest of the UK and the next step was to develop growth to far more successful levels than in the past. | The First Minister said Scotland had secured a higher level of employment than the rest of the UK and the next step was to develop growth to far more successful levels than in the past. |
| "I want to see Scotland's growth higher than it is today - that's our target," he said. | "I want to see Scotland's growth higher than it is today - that's our target," he said. |
| "The reality of the SNP's plans are not that we would get higher growth, but the prosperity of hard workers would be threatened by the fact that their sums don't add up. | "The reality of the SNP's plans are not that we would get higher growth, but the prosperity of hard workers would be threatened by the fact that their sums don't add up. |
| "They are going to make Scotland the highest taxed part of the UK. They haven't got an economic policy that stands up under any scrutiny at all. They would put Scotland's prosperity at risk." | "They are going to make Scotland the highest taxed part of the UK. They haven't got an economic policy that stands up under any scrutiny at all. They would put Scotland's prosperity at risk." |