Sturgeon confident Scots will vote for break-up

Political Editor

Thursday 18 October 2012

NICOLA Sturgeon has told SNP delegates arriving for the start of the SNP conference today that the independence referendum is "there to be won".

SPEAKING OUT: Nicola Sturgeon issued a rallying call to delegates arriving in Perth. Picture: Stewart Attwood

Custom byline text:

Magnus Gardham Political Editor

The Deputy First Minister claimed Scotland would "complete its home rule journey" and leave the UK following the autumn 2014 vote.

She said: "This week's agreement between the Scottish and UK governments ensures we will have a referendum made in Scotland, with the outcome respected by all sides.

"The task now is to go out and win the argument among the people. And if we win the argument, we will win the referendum. A yes vote is there to be won, and I believe will be won in two years' time."The rallying cry came as the party's strategists prepared to unveil a two-pronged bid to win the hearts of Scots voters, a large majority of whom remain sceptical about independence according to recent opinion polls.Over the four days of the event in Perth, senior Nationalists will claim Scots would be financially better off under independence, after polling showed support for leaving Britain would rise to 45% if the SNP could prove it would result in an economic boost.Ms Sturgeon cited figures showing Scotland produced 9.6% of UK tax in 2010/11 but benefited from 9.3% of total spending.She also highlighted figures showing Scotland's deficit, relative to GDP, was smaller than the rest of the UK.In a second bid to win over voters, the SNP will claim that independence would protect free university tuition, free prescription charges and other popular Government giveaways which have been questioned by Labour.The party's own polling suggests 30% of people would be more likely to vote yes in the referendum if they believed it would preserve free care for the elderly.A further 24% would be more likely to vote yes if free prescriptions were under threat and 23% if they believed it would help protect free tuition fees. In each case, around 60% of voters would not be swayed one way or another.A senior strategist said "the opportunities of an independent Scotland and the damaging consequences of a no vote" would be the twin themes of the conference, which will attract up to 2000 people, including observers and media.He added: "Now that the arguments around process and how we can achieve an independent Scotland have been settled, we can present the argument for why independence is so important to Scotland's future."However, before the message can be driven home in keynote speeches by SNP leader Alex Salmond on Saturday and his deputy, Ms Sturgeon on Sunday, the party faces potentially damaging rows over same-sex marriage and an independent Scotland's membership of Nato.Better Together, the cross-party pro-UK campaign, said the SNP's claims about tax and public spending had been undermined by the pro-independence Yes Scotland campaign.They highlighted a Yes Scotland campaign document which confirmed "Scotland gets 20% more in spending than what we pay in tax. But the rest of the UK receives 24% more in spending than what they pay in tax".A Better Together spokesman said: "The entire SNP economic argument has come crashing down about them thanks to the man who is supposed to be running the Yes campaign. "Blair Jenkins has repeatedly said that he doesn't report to Alex Salmond. For his sake, we hope this is true – although we suspect that the big red phone sitting on his desk will be ringing off the hook as we speak."Anas Sarwar, deputy leader of Scottish Labour, said figures showing a rise in unemployment "should be a reminder to Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon that their first priority has to be jobs, not grandstanding on the referendum".

Contextual targeting label:

Business

Commenting & Moderation

We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.

Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.

Sturgeon confident Scots will vote for break-up

Commenting & Moderation

MOST READ

SPONSORED LINKS

MOST COMMENTED