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Scottish independence: Sturgeon in new Yes vote drive Scottish independence: Sturgeon says taxes would not rise to pay welfare bill
(about 21 hours later)
Scotland's deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon will tell activists there is a "natural majority" for independence. Taxes would not have to rise in an independent Scotland to pay for the SNP's welfare proposals, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has insisted.
At a speech in Glasgow on Monday, she will say she is confident of securing a Yes vote in next year's referendum, if people can be convinced Scotland can be a wealthier and fairer country. The minister was speaking ahead of a speech she will make to yes campaign activists in Glasgow.
Her speech will mark the start of 70 weeks to the referendum. She said former Labour PM Gordon Brown's comment that taxes would have to rise was "preposterous".
The SNP claimed the speech would move the campaign "on to a new level". The Fife MP will also be in Glasgow later to unveil the United With Labour campaign against independence.
Ms Sturgeon will say: "I am convinced, from talking to people across the country, that there is a natural majority in Scotland for independence. The group is aiming to distance itself from Tory and Liberal Democrat colleagues in the pro-Union Better Together movement.
"What do I mean by that? I mean that people will vote Yes if we can persuade them that it opens the door to a wealthier and fairer country." The anti and pro-independence events are taking place at the start of 70 weeks to the referendum on Thursday, 18 September 2014.
She will tell activists: "We believe that Scotland should be governed here at home, from our own Parliament, and not from Westminster; that we should hold the powers in our own hands to shape a nation that lives up to our ambitions of fairness and prosperity; that we should have no one else to blame if we fail to do so; and that we should have a new relationship of equals with our friends across these islands. Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme, Ms Sturgeon said: "I do accept that we have work to do - the point I am making is that I believe there is a majority to be won for independence if we can persuade people that independence opens the door to a better Scotland, to a fairer Scotland and a more prosperous Scotland."
"That is the vision that can win the argument and win the referendum." She added that part of making Scotland better would be to change the welfare system in an independent Scotland.
She is expected to pose questions for the pro-Union camp to answer, including whether the UK will still be in the European Union. Ms Sturgeon said the universal credit system being introduced by the Tory/Lib Dem coalition at Westminster discriminated against women.
She explained: "We would change that so we are making sure that women's independence is respected."
The minister said the government would lay out reform of the system as the referendum date got closer.
But she admitted that not "everybody would be better off". Ms Sturgeon believed it was important to focus on encouraging people into work.
Asked if taxes would have to rise to pay for welfare in an independent Scotland, Ms Sturgeon told Good Morning Scotland "no".
She added: "I heard a clip earlier from Gordon Brown saying that - that is preposterous. We have a situation in Scotland right now where our financial, fiscal situation is stronger than the UK as a whole.
"That would be the starting point of independence. Scots per head of population have contributed more tax than people across the rest of the UK - we pay and contribute more tax to the UK than we receive in terms of our share of UK spending."
In her speech later, Ms Sturgeon is expected to pose questions for the pro-Union camp to answer, including whether the UK will still be in the European Union.
She will also ask how much more means-testing will be introduced to the UK benefits system and how many more children will be "living in poverty" because of Westminster cuts to welfare.She will also ask how much more means-testing will be introduced to the UK benefits system and how many more children will be "living in poverty" because of Westminster cuts to welfare.
The approach is described as a "two futures" argument which the SNP hopes will resonate with voters.The approach is described as a "two futures" argument which the SNP hopes will resonate with voters.