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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Salmond sets out 'global vision' | Salmond sets out 'global vision' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| First Minister Alex Salmond has outlined his vision to make Scotland a major player on the world stage. | First Minister Alex Salmond has outlined his vision to make Scotland a major player on the world stage. |
| The SNP leader told his party's spring conference the door was open internationally, as he marked a year in power at Holyrood. | The SNP leader told his party's spring conference the door was open internationally, as he marked a year in power at Holyrood. |
| Mr Salmond also said he wanted to see 20 SNP MPs at the next UK election. | Mr Salmond also said he wanted to see 20 SNP MPs at the next UK election. |
| And he launched an attack on Labour - accusing the party of losing its way, forgetting its values and abandoning its roots. | And he launched an attack on Labour - accusing the party of losing its way, forgetting its values and abandoning its roots. |
| Mr Salmond also announced plans for a new life sciences institute in Dundee, overseen by leading Scots scientist Sir Phillip Cohen. | Mr Salmond also announced plans for a new life sciences institute in Dundee, overseen by leading Scots scientist Sir Phillip Cohen. |
| 'Nos' will become 'Yesses' as we make Westminster dance to a Scottish jig." Alex SalmondFirst minister of Scotland | |
| And he announced a summer tour of the Scottish Cabinet around Scotland, with appearances in towns and cities from Dumfries to Aberdeen. | And he announced a summer tour of the Scottish Cabinet around Scotland, with appearances in towns and cities from Dumfries to Aberdeen. |
| Mr Salmond told the conference in Edinburgh the minority Scottish Government had done much during its first year in power as he reeled off a list of achievements, including plans for 1,000 more police, scrapping the student graduate endowment and freezing council tax. | Mr Salmond told the conference in Edinburgh the minority Scottish Government had done much during its first year in power as he reeled off a list of achievements, including plans for 1,000 more police, scrapping the student graduate endowment and freezing council tax. |
| "We have a strong and clear sense of purpose," he said. | "We have a strong and clear sense of purpose," he said. |
| "We are a government with energy, ideas and vision - total confidence in Scotland's ability to succeed." | "We are a government with energy, ideas and vision - total confidence in Scotland's ability to succeed." |
| And following his recent visit to the US, the first minister declared: "The door is open to Scotland internationally." | And following his recent visit to the US, the first minister declared: "The door is open to Scotland internationally." |
| Mr Salmond also said the more UK Labour ministers tried to bully Scotland on issues such as withholding council tax benefit - the more support there would be for independence. | |
| ALEX SALMOND'S SPEECH ALEX SALMOND'S SPEECH [68KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | |
| Outlining his 20 MP target, he went on: "If we achieve that, then all these Westminster 'Nos' will suddenly become 'Yesses' as we make Westminster dance to a Scottish jig." | |
| The first minister said the doubling of the UK 10p tax rate would benefit MSPs to the tune of £300, while those on low incomes would lose as much as £150. | |
| The Scottish Government's local income tax plan to replace council tax - which ministers currently do not have enough support to get through parliament - would cost MSPs £600 but would help pensioners and Scots on low incomes, he added. | |
| "The Labour Party has lost not only its way, it has forgotten its values and abandoned its roots," Mr Salmond told the packed conference auditorium. | |
| "Self-interest has become an art form and it is at the expense of the people they are elected to represent." | |
| Mr Salmond said good government from the SNP would increase support for independence, adding that his party now had a strong record in government to support its "noble cause". | |
| "The reality of the 21st Century is that the processes of independence and interdependence are one and the same," he said. | |
| "As our world becomes ever more interconnected in terms of trade, international relations, the environment and security - the case for nations having a voice at a global level becomes ever more compelling." |