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Scottish independence: Clegg and Miliband challenge SNP Scottish independence: Clegg and Miliband challenge SNP
(about 7 hours later)
The deputy prime minister and Labour leader are to launch an attack on independence in speeches to their Scottish party conferences. The leaders of Labour and the Lib Dems have attacked independence in speeches to their Scottish party conferences.
Nick Clegg will say the SNP must come clean on its plans, while Ed Miliband will argue the move would undermine work to build a fair society. Nick Clegg said the SNP must come clean on its plans, while Ed Miliband argued the move would undermine work to build a fair society.
Liberal Democrats are kicking off their spring conference in Inverness, while Labour meets in Dundee. The Liberal Democrats kicked off their spring conference in Inverness, while Labour is meeting in Dundee.
The Scottish government is planning an independence referendum in 2014. The Scottish government had said it wanted to hold a referendum on independence in the autumn of 2014.
In their keynote speeches, the Lib Dem and Labour leaders will also set out their plans for boosting the economy. In their keynote speeches, the Lib Dem and Labour leaders also set out their plans for boosting the economy.
On independence, Mr Clegg said the nationalists still had many questions to answer on how an independent Scotland would work. On independence, Deputy Prime Minister and Lib Dem leader Mr Clegg said the nationalists still had many questions to answer on how an independent Scotland would work.
And he called for the referendum to be held "sooner, rather than later", with a single, clear question on the ballot asking whether people support Scotland going it alone, rather than including a second one on more powers for Holyrood. And he called for the referendum to be held "sooner, rather than later", with a single, clear question on the ballot asking whether people supported Scotland going it alone, rather than including a second one on more powers for Holyrood.
Speaking ahead of the conference, the deputy prime minister said he favoured more devolution of powers to the Scottish Parliament. Labour leader Mr Miliband told members of the Scottish Labour Party faithful that people across the UK "owe obligations to each other", which would be thwarted by ending the union.
Meanwhile, Mr Miliband will tell members of the Scottish Labour party faithful that people across the UK "owe obligations to each other", which would be thwarted by ending the union. Creating a new border between Scotland and England, Mr Miliband said, would not enhance economic fairness.
The Labour leader will seek to say his two main rivals - the Tories at Westminster and the SNP at Holyrood - that neither offers a prospectus for "rekindling the hopes" of ordinary working people. Rather, the objective should be for the nations of the United Kingdom to work together.
The Tories, he will say, are "wedded to the old ways", which generated the economic crisis. He said that to every problem, the nationalists' answer was the same - separation, division and isolation.
And the SNP, he'll argue, project an image of progressive politics, but negate that through such policies as their desire to cut corporation tax. The Labour politician said that throwing up a border across the A1 and M74 was going to help the SNP.
He added: "The way to beat the Tory-led government and the SNP government is not different, it's the same - to show how our values can make our country work for the working people of Britain."
'Failed the young'
Mr Miliband said that he and Scottish leader Johann Lamont had come into politics to make Britain fairer.
But he added: "Alex Salmond [SNP leader] came into politics to change Britain's borders.
"It's not by chance that the SNP have failed the young people of Scotland it's their choice to make separatism the priority."
Once upon a time, it was Labour and the Liberal Democrats which were the main political force in Scotland.Once upon a time, it was Labour and the Liberal Democrats which were the main political force in Scotland.
They served for eight years in coalition government at Holyrood, but, the voters' desire for change has seen the SNP win more popular support at the polls than any other party since devolution in 1999.They served for eight years in coalition government at Holyrood, but, the voters' desire for change has seen the SNP win more popular support at the polls than any other party since devolution in 1999.
Ahead of the independence referendum - likely to be held in autumn 2014 - Labour and the Lib Dems face the challenge of teaming up to make the case for the union.Ahead of the independence referendum - likely to be held in autumn 2014 - Labour and the Lib Dems face the challenge of teaming up to make the case for the union.
At the same time though, they also have to rebuild their parties in the face of tough losses at the last Scottish election.At the same time though, they also have to rebuild their parties in the face of tough losses at the last Scottish election.
For Labour, it has to up its role as an effective main opposition party and government-in-waiting.For Labour, it has to up its role as an effective main opposition party and government-in-waiting.
And the Lib Dems have to counteract their perceived unpopularity in Scotland, after doing a deal with the Tories at Westminster.And the Lib Dems have to counteract their perceived unpopularity in Scotland, after doing a deal with the Tories at Westminster.
Before the referendum though, comes the council elections in May, which could well bring further electoral woes for the two parties.Before the referendum though, comes the council elections in May, which could well bring further electoral woes for the two parties.
Creating a new border between Scotland and England, Mr Miliband will say, will not enhance economic fairness. Meanwhile, in his bid to make a case against independence, Mr Clegg said the people of the United Kingdom had a "rich, shared heritage".
Rather, the objective should be for the nations of the United Kingdom to work together. He told his party's Inverness gathering: "We live side-by-side in towns and cities across the British Isles.
On the economy, Mr Miliband will say Labour's focus is on jobs and young people, with a tax policy based on credits and help for hard-working families. "Scottish, English, Welsh and Northern Irish people are together every day, in offices and factories, school classrooms and playing fields.
At the same time, he will say the SNP wants corporation tax cut to 12%, to help big business. "We have rallied together in hard times, our forefathers fought together and died together, just as brave Scottish, English, Welsh and Northern Irish service men and women are fighting side-by-side in faraway lands right now."
Meanwhile, Mr Clegg will tell his party's conference that the Lib Dems, as part of the UK coalition government, have worked to repair the economy after the "mess" left behind by Labour. Mr Clegg went on: "For centuries we have crossed each others borders, married each other, raised families together.
He will add: "As we build a new economy from the rubble of the old, Liberal Democrats in the Coalition Government are giving you real, practical help in tough times. "What Scot doesn't have any English, Welsh or Northern Irish in their family tree?
"That's why we have cut your taxes, even as we've had to take difficult decisions to raise money elsewhere. "I believe the bonds that bring us together are stronger than the forces that would tear us apart."
"Thanks to Liberal Democrats, by raising the point at which you start paying income tax, we put £200 a year back in your pockets last year and another £130 from next month." The politician said he hoped that the people of Scotland would choose to stay in the UK.
Mr Clegg also admitted his party faced a severe electoral test in the forthcoming local council elections in Scotland, in May. He told conference that "as an Englishman" he believed that the UK was stronger with Scotland in it.
Mr Clegg added: "Scotland, like the other parts of the UK, has fared better in this global economic crisis than many of our European neighbours because we are part of one of the world's strongest economies.
"We have all been protected from the worst of the recession by the credibility and low interest rates the UK government has been able to secure and maintain."