Miliband urges Scots to ‘kick the Tories out and end austerity’

Labour leader vows to hold Scotland’s interests at heart

Labour leader Ed Miliband has made an appeal to Scottish pride and patriotism in a final push to win votes on the eve of the general election.

Mr Miliband again evoked the names of Labour’s Scottish founder Keir Hardie and devolution trailblazer John Smith, insisting Labour “was born in Scotland and remains Scotland’s party of social justice”.

Ahead of polling day, he said: “On the eve of the tightest general election in a generation, my message to the people of Scotland is this: I understand the patriotism and pride you feel in your nation.

“I know you want change. And I know you want a more socially just and fairer country. That’s what I want too.

“The Labour party was born in Scotland and remains Scotland’s party of social justice. If I’m prime minister I will hold Scotland’s interests in my heart and my head.

“My party is based on values long held in Scotland and has been driven forward by great Scots like Keir Hardie and John Smith throughout our proud history.

“We are the party of working people, of fighting poverty and injustice, and of looking after those who struggle against the odds.

“David Cameron is clear. If he has just one more MP than Labour he’ll try and stay in power.

“Any seat the SNP win from Labour in Scotland makes that more likely and we’ll suffer five more years of cuts, food banks and falling living standards.

“The one vote David Cameron doesn’t want you to cast is a vote for Labour. The only way to get a Labour government on Friday is to vote Labour on Thursday.

“A Labour government is within touching distance. I’m asking for your vote to kick the Tories out and to end Tory austerity.

“Vote for Labour – the party of Scotland, of change and of social justice.”

The Labour party was born in Scotland

Picture: Getty. Labour leader Ed Miliband speaking in Colne yesterday.