ALEX Salmond has been warned against "grandstanding and negativity" ahead of today's inter-governmental meeting in Downing Street.
The First Minister is adamant that he will raise several concerns, claiming the Coalition is creating an unbalanced and unequal economy focused on London and the south east of England.
At today's meeting of the Joint Ministerial Committee, he will press David Cameron to "recognise Scotland's case" on a number of issues. He said: "I will push the UK to recognise Scotland's ability to move further, faster and more effectively in supporting our young people into work. I will call on the Coalition Government to reverse its damaging and divisive bedroom tax. I will ask the Prime Minister to explain when Scottish communities and good causes will see the return of money that is rightly theirs."
The main annual JMC meeting will be chaired by the Prime Minister and cover such issues as the economy, immigration and the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Alistair Carmichael, the new Scottish Secretary, stressed how the plenary session was a chance for governments across the UK to come together to tackle problems in a positive and co-operative way.
But he stressed: "I am hoping the First Minister will come to the meeting in that spirit. This is not the place for a negative approach or trotting out a list of grievances."
A Whitehall insider also noted: "This is not a time for grandstanding but to discuss serious issues."
Labour's Margaret Curran called on both Mr Salmond and Mr Cameron not to grandstand but to seize the opportunity for the JMC to take action to help people with the cost of living crisis.
The Shadow Scottish Secretary said: "Instead of coming to London to tell David Cameron to bin the bedroom tax, Alex Salmond should be laying out a plan to stop it hitting Scots. Earlier this month, Northern Ireland negotiated a four-year delay on the bedroom tax but, in Scotland, Alex Salmond is avoiding effective action."
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