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Labour to 'reach out' to Yes voters Salmond has 'lost plot' says Alistair Darling
(about 2 hours later)
Labour is to reach out to supporters who voted for independence in last week's referendum, the party has said. Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has "lost the plot" after voters rejected independence, the leader of the campaign to keep the Union said.
Shadow Scottish secretary Margaret Curran said senior party figures would meet Labour voters who backed independence in last week's referendum. Alistair Darling's comments to the Labour conference came after Mr Salmond claimed voters were "tricked" into voting "No" by Westminster leaders.
She told the BBC that many Labour supporters voted "Yes" for "understandable reasons". Mr Darling said his opponent must accept the outcome of the referendum.
The SNP, Scottish Greens and Scottish Socialist Party say they have recruited many former Labour members. Meanwhile, Labour reached out to supporters who voted for independence to come "home" to the party.
Three of the four local authorities where a majority of people voted "Yes" were Labour controlled. Scottish voters backed the country staying in the UK by 2,001,926 votes to 1,617,989 in Thursday's referendum.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister David Cameron has invited key Tory figures to his country residence to discuss his plans for constitutional change. Following the result, Mr Salmond, who is stepping down as first minister and SNP leader, said voters in Scotland were "tricked" by a late pledge from the leaders of the pro-Union parties to increase the Scottish Parliament's powers in the event of a "No" vote.
Nominations for a new Scottish National Party leader, following Alex Salmond's announcement that he is to stand down, are expected to open on Wednesday. Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats continue to disagree over how to deliver on their pre-referendum vow to devolve further powers to Scotland if it rejected independence.
The party's deputy leader, Nicola Sturgeon, is then likely to formally declare her candidacy. It is understood that she will not choose a running mate for the post of deputy leader. But the UK government has denied that it is reneging on its commitment.
The results of both elections will be declared at the SNP conference in November.
'Understandable reasons'
Scotland voted by 55% to 45% to stay in the union last Thursday, but polls ahead of the vote suggested many Labour supporters intended to back independence.
Ms Curran told delegates at the Labour conference in Manchester that she will visit the 10 constituencies in Scotland with the highest "Yes" vote.
The shadow Scottish secretary told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We've got a divided country.
"There were many people who voted 'Yes' for good, I think, understandable reasons. Many people with whom I think I share a great deal.
"I think we need to reach out to those people and argue and believe that we can build a better Scotland together."
Ms Curran was asked how shadow chancellor Ed Balls' proposal to extend the coalition's cap on increases in child benefit would sit with Labour voters in Scotland.
"You have to have cogent and coherent economic policies going forward," she replied.
"I think that's one of the lessons of the referendum."
She also argued that the referendum result showed clear support for devolution.
"The sovereign will of the Scottish people has been expressed," she said,
"We need to respect that and move forward now, with the guarantees, with the commitments that we made during the referendum campaign."
Analysis: Andrew Black, BBC Scotland political reporterAnalysis: Andrew Black, BBC Scotland political reporter
The voters may have rejected the SNP's defining policy of independence, but the party clearly isn't done fighting yet.The voters may have rejected the SNP's defining policy of independence, but the party clearly isn't done fighting yet.
As Labour makes its appeal to win back supporters who voted "Yes" last Thursday, the SNP is talking itself up as a force to be reckoned with, suggesting it's on track to win the 2016 Holyrood election, citing a membership surge and promising poll predictions.As Labour makes its appeal to win back supporters who voted "Yes" last Thursday, the SNP is talking itself up as a force to be reckoned with, suggesting it's on track to win the 2016 Holyrood election, citing a membership surge and promising poll predictions.
It has also turned to rhetoric which has served the party well in previous elections, that the SNP can be trusted to speak up for Scotland.It has also turned to rhetoric which has served the party well in previous elections, that the SNP can be trusted to speak up for Scotland.
When the Scottish Parliament reconvenes on Tuesday for the first time since the referendum "No" vote, out-going First Minister Alex Salmond will make a statement to MSPs, in which he'll no doubt address the issue of more powers coming to Holyrood.When the Scottish Parliament reconvenes on Tuesday for the first time since the referendum "No" vote, out-going First Minister Alex Salmond will make a statement to MSPs, in which he'll no doubt address the issue of more powers coming to Holyrood.
Mr Salmond says his opponents tricked people into voting "No" on Thursday, with a last-minute promise of new devolved powers, and the Scottish government now wants to put itself in a strong position to argue for as many new powers from Westminster as possible.Mr Salmond says his opponents tricked people into voting "No" on Thursday, with a last-minute promise of new devolved powers, and the Scottish government now wants to put itself in a strong position to argue for as many new powers from Westminster as possible.
The problem with all this, say Scotland's pro-Union parties, is that Mr Salmond needs to fully accept the referendum result, while No 10 has dismissed claims that it's reneging on more devolved powers.The problem with all this, say Scotland's pro-Union parties, is that Mr Salmond needs to fully accept the referendum result, while No 10 has dismissed claims that it's reneging on more devolved powers.
Meanwhile, the SNP leadership contest is on the horizon following Mr Salmond's decision to stand down, with current deputy Nicola Sturgeon expected to become the clear frontrunner to succeed him when nominations are due to open on Wednesday.Meanwhile, the SNP leadership contest is on the horizon following Mr Salmond's decision to stand down, with current deputy Nicola Sturgeon expected to become the clear frontrunner to succeed him when nominations are due to open on Wednesday.
The new leader will take the reins at the SNP conference in November, after which Mr Salmond will stand down as first minister.The new leader will take the reins at the SNP conference in November, after which Mr Salmond will stand down as first minister.
MSPs vote on his successor in that job, although the SNP's parliamentary majority will ensure it goes to their new leader.MSPs vote on his successor in that job, although the SNP's parliamentary majority will ensure it goes to their new leader.
In her conference speech Ms Curran argued that the "campaign to change Scotland didn't end on Thursday. It only started. And it needs to include everyone". Mr Darling, a Labour MP, who led the Better Together campaign during the referendum, told the conference in Manchester: "Some people haven't entirely accepted this result .
But she told party members: "We have to be honest when we look at the results and see that many of the people who think that Britain can't work for them are Labour voters. "Apparently the first minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, said today, well he'd lost the referendum but never mind, he might be able to seize power some other way."
"They are terrified of Tory governments, they are worried about the future of our public services, and their living standards have been ground down year on year. Mr Darling added: "I say this to Alex Salmond - you lost the argument, you lost the referendum, you've lost office and now you've lost the plot."
"We need to understand more clearly why they are angry and what we need to do about it. Also speaking at the conference, shadow Scottish secretary Margaret Curran said her party had to be honest about the fact that Labour voters had backed independence.
"We need to understand why, in areas like Glasgow, Lanarkshire and Dundee people feel so let down by our country that they want to opt out entirely." Speaking as Scotland's pro-independence parties reported surges in membership, Ms Curran said: "I know many good decent people driven by values similar to ours who voted 'Yes'.
'Change Scotland' "If you voted 'Yes' because you wanted a fairer and better Scotland, then we can work together. If you voted 'Yes' because poverty and inequality cuts you to the core, then come with us.
Meanwhile, Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont will tell activists that the party must address the "deficit of hope" that exists. "And if you voted 'Yes' because you want to build a movement to change our country, I say the Scottish Labour party is not your opponent but your home."
She will salute the "passion for change" of independence campaigners, and will urge them to "share their energy with us to change Scotland and change Britain and build that society we all seek without borders". Meanwhile, Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney, speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme, accused the UK parties of "utterly unseemly behaviour".
And Ms Lamont will state that Labour "allowed disappointment to become despair and to ferment into nationalism". He argued that warnings from Mr Darling to deliver devolution promises showed that "a lot of games are being played at Westminster".
Their speeches to the conference come as the three main UK parties continue to disagree over how to deliver on their pre-referendum vow to devolve further powers to Scotland if it rejected independence.
The prime minister pledged to give tax-raising powers to the Scottish Parliament "in tandem" with moves to restrict Scottish MPs from voting on English matters.
But he is under pressure from Conservative backbenchers angry at the way Mr Cameron, Labour leader Ed Miliband and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg teamed up to offer more powers to Scotland.
Later he will hold a summit of senior Tory MPs at Chequers, his official country residence, to discuss his "English votes for English laws" plan.
BBC political correspondent Vicki Young said the meeting was intended to signal to English voters that the prime minister is "protecting their interests".
Some in the Labour Party fear Mr Cameron's surprise announcement on England-only votes is a "trap" that could undermine a future Labour government, which may rely on its Scottish MPs to give it a majority on key votes.
On Saturday, former Prime Minister Gordon Brown said a motion signed by the three party leaders and setting out a timetable for the delivery of new powers would be lodged at the Houses of Parliament on Monday.
'Cavilling and reneging'
But Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has claimed that voters were "tricked" into voting "No" by the late pledge on more powers by the Westminster leaders.
Speaking at the weekend, Mr Salmond told the BBC: "I am actually not surprised they are cavilling and reneging on commitments, I am only surprised by the speed at which they are doing it. They seem to be totally shameless in these matters.
"I think the vow was something cooked up in desperation for the last few days of the campaign and I think everyone in Scotland now realises that."
Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney, also speaking to Good Morning Scotland, said: "I think what we've seen in the last few days is utterly unseemly behaviour by the UK parties."
He argued that warnings by former Better Together campaign leader Alistair Darling that devolution promises must be delivered showed that "a lot of games are being played at Westminster".
He added: "There should be absolutely no backsliding whatsoever."He added: "There should be absolutely no backsliding whatsoever."
The SNP said on Sunday that it had recruited more than 10,000 new members since the referendum result. Mr Swinney's comments came as Prime Minister David Cameron hosted a summit of senior Conservative MPs at Chequers to discuss plans to limit the Commons voting rights of Scottish MPs.
The Scottish Greens said more than 2,000 people had joined it in the same time period, with the Scottish Socialist Party, which also backed independence, saying it had attracted well over 1,000 new members. The prime minister has said a pledge to give Scotland more powers should go hand in hand with changing the role of Scottish politicians at Westminster.
But he is under pressure from Conservative backbenchers angry at the way Mr Cameron, Labour leader Ed Miliband and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg teamed up to offer more powers to Scotland.
But Labour has also accused Mr Cameron of "playing the English nationalist card".
In other developments, nominations to replace Mr Salmond as SNP leader are expected to open on Wednesday, with current deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon the clear frontrunner.
Party members would also need to elect a new deputy leader, with the results of both elections declared at the SNP conference in November.