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Scottish independence will 'end poverty', says Sturgeon Health secretary Sturgeon urges drinks industry not to stop booze law
(about 6 hours later)
Independence will give Scotland the powers it needs to get rid of poverty and deprivation, deputy SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon will say later. Scotland's health secretary has called on opponents of minimum pricing for a unit of alcohol not to hold up the legislation in the courts.
Scotland's deputy first minister will attack "heartless" UK government welfare reforms at her party's spring conference, in Glasgow. Nicola Sturgeon used her SNP conference speech to say that a legal challenge to the bill would "delay the benefits it can bring".
She will say the changes are punishing the elderly and vulnerable. The Scottish government hopes to change the law by the summer.
Ms Sturgeon will seek to contrast the policy with an SNP vision to get people off benefits for the "right reasons". Ms Sturgeon also stated that only independence could fully guarantee Scotland's NHS.
The Westminster government says its UK-wide welfare reforms will save billions of pounds, by replacing disability living allowance with a personal independence payment and bringing in a single, universal credit. Speaking to fellow party members in Glasgow, the MSP said the Scottish government had shown what could be achieved with the current devolved powers.
But the SNP says the move will hit some of the people most in need of help. She said: "But if we are to use all of the resources, skills and talent we have as a nation to build an even better Scotland, we need independence.
Ms Sturgeon, also Scotland's health secretary, will tell the last day of the SNP conference that the Holyrood government has shown what can be achieved with the current devolved powers.
"But if we are to use all of the resources, skills and talent we have as a nation to build an even better Scotland, we need independence," she will say.
"Only independence can stop Westminster governments squandering energy wealth, while our older folk struggle to pay their heating bills."Only independence can stop Westminster governments squandering energy wealth, while our older folk struggle to pay their heating bills.
"Only independence will put a stop to heartless Tory welfare reforms that punish the vulnerable and the disabled."Only independence will put a stop to heartless Tory welfare reforms that punish the vulnerable and the disabled.
"And only independence will give us the powers we need to rid Scotland of the poverty and deprivation that still scars our nation.""And only independence will give us the powers we need to rid Scotland of the poverty and deprivation that still scars our nation."
Ms Sturgeon will also use her speech to announce more support for carers.