Leonard: Our policies will unite Scotland
LABOUR’S anti-austerity policies can offer a “unifying vision” in a “divided” Scotland, Richard Leonard will claim today.
The Scottish Labour leader insists his party’s commitment to tackling poverty will win support from people on both sides of the independence debate.
In a speech in Glasgow, Leonard will say that the “real divide” in the UK is between rich and poor.
It will form part of his response to the report by the SNP’s Sustainable Growth Commission.
Leonard has already argued the deficit reduction plans set out by the commission would result in spending cuts.
He will say: “We need to stop dividing people on the basis of nationality and start uniting people on the basis of class to bring about real change.
“Only Labour can offer this unifying vision. Austerity is a political not an economic choice, and it is the choice being taken by both Ruth Davidson and Nicola Sturgeon.”
An SNP spokesman said: “It would be laughable, if it were not so serious, that Scottish Labour would talk about unity while being so hopelessly consumed by conflicting positions on Brexit – one of the biggest threats facing Scotland.
“Meanwhile, it is the SNP who are stepping up to the mark and working to protect the economy, jobs and the livelihoods of families across the country.”