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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Scottish independence: Sturgeon says taxes would not rise to pay welfare bill | Scottish independence: Sturgeon says taxes would not rise to pay welfare bill |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| The minister was speaking ahead of a speech she will make to yes campaign activists in Glasgow. | The minister was speaking ahead of a speech she will make to yes campaign activists in Glasgow. |
| She said former Labour PM Gordon Brown's comment that taxes would have to rise was "preposterous". | She said former Labour PM Gordon Brown's comment that taxes would have to rise was "preposterous". |
| The Fife MP was also in Glasgow to unveil the United With Labour campaign against independence. | |
| The group is aiming to distance itself from Tory and Liberal Democrat colleagues in the pro-Union Better Together movement. | The group is aiming to distance itself from Tory and Liberal Democrat colleagues in the pro-Union Better Together movement. |
| The anti and pro-independence events are taking place at the start of 70 weeks to the referendum on Thursday, 18 September 2014. | The anti and pro-independence events are taking place at the start of 70 weeks to the referendum on Thursday, 18 September 2014. |
| 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." | 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." |
| She added that part of making Scotland better would be to change the welfare system in an independent Scotland. | She added that part of making Scotland better would be to change the welfare system in an independent Scotland. |
| Ms Sturgeon said the universal credit system being introduced by the Tory/Lib Dem coalition at Westminster discriminated against women. | 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." | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. | 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." | "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. | 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. |