Scottish independence: Labour has ‘nothing to fear’ from Union debate

LABOUR has “nothing to fear” from the debate over Scotland’s future, shadow Scottish secretary Margaret Curran told her party’s Scottish conference in Dundee.

Ms Curran said the period in the run-up to the independence referendum gives the party an opportunity to “restate our fundamental values” on the final day of the conference.

Ms Curran used her closing address to launch a two-pronged attack on the SNP at Holyrood and the Tory-led coalition government at Westminster, as she criticised Scottish Secretary Michael Moore for “giving his support” to cuts in benefits and accused the SNP government of being “fixated on a separatist agenda”.

She said: “Scottish Labour has nothing to fear. It is a chance for our party to restate our fundamental values and show how they represent Scottish values. Because as a party, we see the constitution not as an end itself but as a means to deliver genuine and real change for communities and families across Scotland.”

Ms Curran criticised Lib Dem cabinet minister Mr Moore for “sitting around the Cabinet table when decisions were made” about cuts to services.

She said: “Instead of boosting Scotland’s economy, tackling youth unemployment and helping disabled people, he has been part of the Tory government, hands-on, giving his support as they undermine the welfare state.”

She said: “It doesn’t need to be like this. We have cuts that are hurting private sector recovery just as much as they have damaged public services.”

Ms Curran said Scotland’s place in the world had been “radically altered by joining with our neighbours” just over 300 years ago when the Union with England was formed.

She went on to say that Scotland had enjoyed one of the “proudest eras” in its history with the Enlightenment. “Scots led the world as we forged new paths in philosophy, political economy and legal thought. We did that in partnership with the UK and we can do so again.”

However, she warned if the debate on the country’s future was dominated by nationalism, Labour would “miss a golden opportunity”.

Ms Curran said: “If we restrict that debate to the narrow prism of separatism, there is no space for our values of unity.”

Meanwhile, shadow Scotland Office minister Willie Bain said the independence referendum should be held within a year, as “uncertainty” about the country’s future was damaging the economy.

He said: “We face uncertainty from the business community, uncertainty about investment in our economy.

“The confusion about the SNP’s plans for the referendum is damaging the economy. That’s why we need next year a clear, decisive and legal referendum. A single-question referendum.”