Jim Murphy slams Scottish and English nationalism

JIM Murphy said David Cameron’s “crude and cheap” English nationalism cannot defeat the SNP and that only “social solidarity” could stop a nationalist surge, in a twin attack on the Conservatives and Nicola Sturgeon’s party.

Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy launches Scottish Labour's manifesto last week. Picture: John Devlin

Mr Murphy issued what he said would be a key Labour message in the closing fortnight of the campaign, stating “Let’s do it together, Let’s stand as one” to defeat the Conservatives and SNP on 7 May.

He said that only “traditional social solidarity” would defeat Mr Cameron, who he said was acting an “election agent” for the SNP in the hope of taking seats off Labour after giving up on the Conservatives in Scotland.

Mr Murphy, speaking at a street rally in Edinburgh today, said: “You don’t defeat Scottish nationalism with David Cameron’s English nationalism. You do it with social solidarity.

He added: “David Cameron is playing with fire, with his crude and cheap tactics. The Scottish Tory Party no longer exists in any meaningful sense, as David Cameron has given up on it and is acting as an election agent for the SNP.

Mr Murphy also called on Nicola Sturgeon to take the “unusual” step of sacking the SNP’s candidate in Edinburgh South Neil Hay, who used Twitter to post offensive messages likening pro-UK supporters to Nazis and claimed elderly voters “barely know their own name”.