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| SNP conference: Salmond attacks 'negative and depressing' No campaign | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Scotland's first minister has branded the campaign for the Union "the most miserable, negative, depressing and thoroughly boring" in modern times. | Scotland's first minister has branded the campaign for the Union "the most miserable, negative, depressing and thoroughly boring" in modern times. |
| Alex Salmond told the SNP conference Better Together was out of touch with reality, while momentum was building towards a "Yes" for independence. | Alex Salmond told the SNP conference Better Together was out of touch with reality, while momentum was building towards a "Yes" for independence. |
| He also used his speech to reach out to women voters, announcing an increase in female representation in his cabinet. | He also used his speech to reach out to women voters, announcing an increase in female representation in his cabinet. |
| Mr Salmond's speech came ahead of the 18 September independence referendum. | Mr Salmond's speech came ahead of the 18 September independence referendum. |
| The ballot will see voters asked the Yes/No question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" | The ballot will see voters asked the Yes/No question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" |
| Polls currently indicate support for the Union, but the Scottish government says momentum is moving towards its position. | Polls currently indicate support for the Union, but the Scottish government says momentum is moving towards its position. |
| Mr Salmond's speech came after recent remarks by former Nato secretary general and Scottish Labour MP Lord George Robertson, who said Scottish independence would be "cataclysmic" for the West in an era of international turmoil. | Mr Salmond's speech came after recent remarks by former Nato secretary general and Scottish Labour MP Lord George Robertson, who said Scottish independence would be "cataclysmic" for the West in an era of international turmoil. |
| The SNP leader said: "The more the people of Scotland hear the case for 'No', the more likely they are to vote 'Yes'. | The SNP leader said: "The more the people of Scotland hear the case for 'No', the more likely they are to vote 'Yes'. |
| "And no wonder - they are the most miserable, negative, depressing and thoroughly boring campaign in modern political history. | "And no wonder - they are the most miserable, negative, depressing and thoroughly boring campaign in modern political history. |
| "They are already out of touch with the people and now, I fear, they're losing touch with reality." | "They are already out of touch with the people and now, I fear, they're losing touch with reality." |
| In contrast, Mr Salmond said, the "Yes" campaign was "positive, uplifting and hopeful", adding: "That is the basis on which we shall win this referendum and shall win our independence." | In contrast, Mr Salmond said, the "Yes" campaign was "positive, uplifting and hopeful", adding: "That is the basis on which we shall win this referendum and shall win our independence." |
| 'Outstanding ministers' | |
| The Scottish government argues Scotland is the 14th richest country among the world's most developed nations, and with independence, would be able to take control of its own resources. | |
| Under independence, the SNP government has pledged a massive expansion in childcare, which it says would help women back to work and boost the economy. | |
| Mr Salmond also said the SNP, under independence, would want companies to aspire to see their boards made up of at least 40% women. | |
| The first minister announced junior ministers Shona Robison, who oversees equality and Angela Constance, who has the youth employment brief, would be made full Scottish cabinet members. | |
| He added: "Subject to parliamentary approval, with these two outstanding ministers in the Scottish cabinet, we practice what we preach. | |
| "The cabinet is our board as a country, and women will make up 40% of the members of the Scottish cabinet." |