Labour 'must work' on Scots independence supporters

Key quote

"When this debate progresses, it's not just that people will realise the folly of the SNP position, I think and I hope, but it's up to us to make the argument, they will realise the positive benefits of the UK" - TONY BLAIR

Story in full LABOUR must "engage" with voters who want Scottish independence and do more to make the argument for the Union, Tony Blair conceded yesterday.

The Prime Minister accepted that growing support for independence shows that Labour has work to do in the run-up to the Holyrood elections next year.

"You've got to engage with people, you've got to persuade them," Mr Blair said when asked about Labour's approach.

Labour figures are concerned about polls that show separatism is gaining favour in Scotland: a Scotsman/ICM survey last week put support for independence at 51 per cent, the highest level for almost a decade.

The Scottish National Party has overtaken Labour in most polls. Mr Blair said the lead could be overturned, but only if Labour makes a case for the current constitutional settlement.

"When this debate progresses, it's not just that people will realise the folly of the SNP position, I think and I hope, but it's up to us to make the argument, they will realise the positive benefits of the UK," the Prime Minister said at Downing Street.

Some Labour figures have suggested that the best way to meet the rising demand for independence is to give more powers to the Scottish Parliament.

Henry McLeish, the former first minister, said on Sunday that Labour should at least consider more powers, or risk seeing other parties lead the debate.

But Mr Blair rejected suggestions that support for independence reflects an appetite for increasing Holyrood's powers. "I don't think it's about that," he said.

Mr Blair was born and educated in Edinburgh, and his father was from Glasgow. Yesterday, he accused the Nationalists of trying to monopolise Scottishness. "What I think it's about is the attempt by the SNP and others to say you're only truly Scottish if you're making the case for independence, but that's rubbish," he said, repeating the Chancellor Gordon Brown's formula for questions of national identity: "You can be Scottish and British."

He went on to set out what he said are the "enormous benefits" to Scotland from the Union.

"We share a currency, we share armed forces, we share social security systems - you rip Scotland out of the UK and you lose those benefits, and you will end up with an uncertain economic future with less power for people in Scotland to effect the big changes in the world."

Alex Salmond, the SNP leader, accused Labour of planning a "smears and fears campaign".

"The more the Prime Minister attacks independence, the more popular it becomes," Mr Salmond said. "He is obviously out of touch with public opinion in Scotland. Not only do the majority of Scots want additional powers for Holyrood, there is now a clear consensus for an independent Scotland."

Scottish question

TONY Blair was left tongue-tied yesterday when asked if he is Scottish. "I was born in Scotland, I mean, you know, you can go back over these things..." he said. "I don't particularly look at that way, because I've lived all my life in England."