SCOTTISH Labour leader Johann Lamont will today describe Alex Salmond's economic policies as "Osborne Max" in a hard-hitting attack designed to position Labour firmly to the left of the SNP.
In her speech to the Scottish Labour conference in Perth, she will accuse the First Minister of a "betrayal of social justice" and of failing to produce a single redistributive policy in seven years of government.
Her comments closely echo UK Labour leader Ed Miliband's address to the party faithful yesterday, when he said Mr Salmond's claim to be a social democrat had been exposed as a sham, as the party mounted a concerted effort to reclaim the mantle of Scotland's progressive political force.
In another sign of Labour's shift to the left, Ian Davidson, veteran MP for Govan, publicly blamed the "complacency" of Tony Blair's New Labour era for the rise of the SNP. Speaking at a conference fringe meeting, he said it was Labour's fault the independence referendum was taking place.
Ms Lamont will today accuse the SNP of favouring the better-off when she addresses activists at Perth Concert Hall. In a reference to the long-running council tax freeze, she will say: "Those with the most getting more, those with the least getting less.
"That isn't just a betrayal of social justice, it is a betrayal of everything we believe Scotland stands for."
She will also condemn the SNP's refusal to propose a 50p top rate of tax for an independent Scotland - a rate Labour have promised to restore across the UK if the party wins next year's Westminster election - and accuse Mr Salmond of failing to "fight injustice".
She will say: "Look beyond the Saltire. Look beyond the plaid. Look at the Scotland the Nationalists are building and what they plan to build.
"We have a Nationalist government which refused to reverse Tory tax cuts for millionaires and a Nationalist government which votes against giving workers on government contracts the living wage.
"Forget talk of indy-lite, this Nationalist government is Osborne Max."
Yesterday Mr Miliband made similar claims during his brief 19-minute speech. Citing SNP plans to cut corporation tax by 3p and to maintain the top rate of income tax at 45p if Scotland becomes independent, he said: "Alex Salmond has been exposed."
He also highlighted Labour pledges - not matched by the Nationalists - to tax bankers' bonuses, freeze energy bills and end zero-hours contracts as evidence of his party's greater commitment to social justice.
He said:"The SNP talk about social justice but they can't build it - because they can't be narrow nationalists and serve social justice at the same time."
Earlier in the day Scottish Labour's deputy leader Anas Sarwar published a "red paper", Together We Can, setting out long-term commitments including a pledge to halve child poverty by 2021.
He insisted the document was not a response to the Scottish Government's independence White Paper but confirmed a summary version would be sent to every household in Scotland in the run-up to the referendum on September 18.
Labour's positioning comes as both sides in the referendum debate step up efforts to target voters in Scotland's less affluent areas. Polls suggest higher levels of pro-independence and undecided voters in working-class areas.
SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson MP said: "Over one-quarter of Labour voters are already voting Yes in September. Ed Miliband can't even persuade his own members and supporters on the referendum. Instead of attacking the SNP he would do better trying to understand why Labour are still so far behind in the polls "
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article