Scottish Labour conference: Ed Miliband says new border will not mean fairer society

THE opening day of Labour’s spring conference in Dundee’s Caird Hall saw UK party leader Ed Miliband address Scottish delegates.

Mr Miliband attacked the SNP, claiming that First Minister Alex Salmond’s party was failing Scotland’s young people by making “separation” its priority instead of youth unemployment.

Mr Miliband insisted that “putting up a new border” between Scotland and England would not create a fairer society.

He said: “We must reject attempts to divide our country by ideology or geography. “

He insisted that families, businesses and pensioners who were struggling in difficult economic times shared concerns, regardless of where they lived.

“People across the United Kingdom are united by wanting an economy that works for not just the few at the top but all the working people,” Mr Miliband said.

“The small business struggling to get by in Stirling shares the same concerns as the small business struggling to get by in Southampton.

“And the pensioner in Dudley trying to keep warm shares the same concerns as the pensioner in Dundee.”

He added: “You should dream big dreams about the way you can change your country. Alex Salmond’s vision is to break up Britain.

“My vision is different. It’s to turn the irresponsible capitalism we have into responsible capitalism. It’s to turn an economy that works only for the few at the top into one that works for every person in our United Kingdom.”