Scottish independence: Ed Miliband issues Alex Salmond with challenge over independence

ED MILIBAND has attacked the SNP’s suggestion that Scots face a choice of either independence or Conservative rule from Westminster as the Labour leader made his latest intervention in the referendum debate.

Mr Miliband, speaking during a visit to Edinburgh yesterday, claimed that Alex Salmond was “massively on the defensive” on key questions about independence such as Scotland retaining the pound and having influence over interest rates.

He went on to say that the economies of Scotland and the rest of the UK were dependent on each other, with large numbers of major employers in Scotland having their main headquarters based south of the Border.

Mr Miliband, who appeared alongside Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont during a visit to a nursery in the capital, also called on 
Mr Salmond to bring 
forward the independence referendum date and to “get on with it”.

Mr Miliband said: “The SNP has a mandate to hold a referendum and I don’t know why they don’t get on with it.

“Alex Salmond has argued for independence for 30 years, but has failed to answer the most basic questions about independence.”

SNP MSP Marco Biagi said: “The leadership of the Labour Party in Scotland are shameless hypocrites who have sided with the Tories in an anti-independence pact which is hellbent on the retention of Westminster rule.”

ANDREW WHITAKER