Kezia Dugdale gives keynote speech to the Labour Party conference challenging First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to focus on “bread and butter issues”, reports David Thomson in Liverpool
SCOTTISH LABOUR leader Kezia Dugdale has challenged Scotland’s first minister not to call a second independence referendum for the lifetime of this session of the Scottish Parliament.
In Dugdale’s keynote speech to the Labour party conference in Liverpool, she told delegates that Nicola Sturgeon should be focusing on “bread and butter issues” after the “ Tories’ reckless Brexit gamble”.
In a speech that included seeking to amend the Scottish budget by increasing the top rate of income tax, and claiming the United Kingdom was not safe in Tory hands, Dugdale urged the SNP leader “not to divide us again”.
“First Minister, our country is already divided enough.” Kezia Dugdale
“We do not need the risk and uncertainty of another independence referendum,” Dugdale said. “As we face negotiations on our membership of the EU and real threats to the future of our public services, we cannot afford our government to take their eye off the ball.”
Dugdale added: “With so many challenges facing Scotland in the future, we should not return to the division of the past.
“My message to Nicola Sturgeon is this: first minister, our country is already divided enough.”
Dugdale told conference she would propose to amend the Scottish budget by raising the top rate of income tax to 50 pence, and the extra penny would protect public services from the cuts from both Holyrood and Westminister.
She said that her party would not support an austerity budget and would protect public services.
Dugdale said: “Making decisions for Scotland that the Tories would never make, and using the powers which we have argued for.
“This, together with our other tax proposals, will enable us to stop further cuts to public services; to protect our schools and hospitals and the services we all value.
“This, together with our other tax proposals, will enable us to stop further cuts to public services; to protect our schools and hospitals and the services we all value.” Kezia Dugdale
“With the full range of powers the Scottish Parliament now has, the SNP government faces a clear choice.
She added: “Accept a Tory Budget from Westminster or go our own way with proposals to grow the Scottish economy and protect our schools and hospitals.
“More and more cuts to Scotland’s budget harm our country’s growth and the prospects for our young people. We need to invest to provide the next generation of Scots with the chances they need to succeed.”
Also In her speech, Dugdale urged delegates not to let Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson “ever tell you again that the UK is safe in Tory hands”.
The Lothians MSP said: “The Tories gave up at the first hurdle, and chose to run a campaign for opposition instead.
“And what a campaign it was.
“They promised to stand up for the union, just months after pushing through English Votes for English Laws (Evel).
“They created two classes of MPs for the first time.
“[The Conservatives] promised to stand up for the union, just months after pushing through English Votes for English Laws (Evel). They created two classes of MPs for the first time.” Kezia Dugdale
“And all this, all this conference, just one year after running a General Election campaign that sought to divide the Scots and the English.
“The worst type of constitutional vandalism.
“And then Ruth Davidson promised a strong economy with a Tory Government at Westminster, but then her party put it all at risk with the EU referendum.
“Now she expects us to look on the bright side, telling us that there may be benefits to Brexit.
“And she did what Scotland could scarcely afford – she used the same divide and rule politics of David Cameron to reopen the divisions between Yes and No. ”
Read more – Labour's John McDonnell blames the Tories for fall in UK productivity
Picture courtesy of David Thomson
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