Scottish independence focus for new year messages

Labour leader Ed Miliband and his party colleague Alistair Darling - the leader of the Better Together campaign - said they hope 2014 will end with Scotland rejecting independence.

But Yes Scotland and the SNP said the year ahead offers the chance to create a better future.

Mr Darling said: “First and foremost we should not divide Scotland. One thing we all have in common, yes, no or undecided, is that we love Scotland and want the best for our children’s future. We are all looking forward to an exciting year where we will cheer on our sports stars here in Scotland. There are patriots on both sides of this debate and we should respect each other for that.

“Whatever decision we make this referendum year it needs be decisive. It is important that we are certain of where we will stand in the future. No one wants this debate on independence to drag on into another year. That means all of us in Scotland should resolve to vote in September and to make sure that the decision we make is decisive.

“I’m certain that we all have far more in common than we have differences and that we are all stronger when we come together. I’m certain that the people of this island belong together in the United Kingdom.”

Mr Miliband said the “cost of living crisis” can be solved with Scotland as part of the United Kingdom.

In his new year message, issued the day before Hogmanay, he said the SNP is not making a difference to the social problem.

“The SNP are in government in Scotland - what are they actually doing on the cost-of-living crisis?” he said.

“They’re not making a difference, in fact they’ve sided with the Tories when it comes to Labour’s energy price freeze. But they are totally wrong, because the problem of higher energy bills is a problem in Southampton as well as in Stirling, the problem of payday lenders is a problem in Gloucester as well as in Glasgow, the problems of low pay is a problem in Essex as well as in Edinburgh.

“It goes across the United Kingdom, these are common problems. I think we can solve these problems with a common vision and a common future.

He said he cares “passionately” about the outcome of the referendum.

“The Nationalists want to give up on social justice within the United Kingdom. I’m not giving up on that. In fact I’m going to show in 2014 how we’re better together, how we can achieve social justice within Scotland and within the United Kingdom.”

SNP response

But SNP MP Angus Robertson said the UK has become “more unequal” under Westminster governments.

“A Yes vote is the route to social justice, and Mr Miliband may not know it, but Labour have no credibility on cost of living issues in Scotland,” he said.

“A quarter of their own Scottish MPs didn’t even bother to turn up at Westminster to vote to scrap the bedroom tax, which we will in an independent Scotland.”

With polls suggesting the “yes” side has more work to do, Yes Scotland chief executive Blair Jenkins said the campaign is a marathon, not a sprint.

“This debate is much bigger than party politics, and has nothing to do with whether you vote for Labour or the SNP or anyone else,” he said.

“Scots from all walks of life have been using their ideas and energy to imagine a better future.

“If we vote to become independent, we immediately become the 8th wealthiest nation on the planet. And yet as part of the UK we live in the 4th most unequal society in the developed world. Why, when Scotland has so many strengths, are so many of our people struggling to make ends meet?

“Only a ‘yes’ vote puts Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands, ensuring that we always get the governments we vote for, not Tory governments we have consistently rejected. We can create a fairer Scotland, with more equality and a greater sharing of wealth and opportunity. There is no prospect of that change within the UK.”

He continued: “We always knew the referendum campaign would be a marathon and not a sprint. In their own time, people are thinking about which outcome next year is more likely to lead to the Scotland they really want, the Scotland they always hoped and dreamed that we could build.”