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Scottish Labour's Dugdale pledges to work 'tirelessly' for union | Scottish Labour's Dugdale pledges to work 'tirelessly' for union |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale will pledge to work tirelessly in support of the union if there were to be a second independence referendum. | Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale will pledge to work tirelessly in support of the union if there were to be a second independence referendum. |
She will make the promise during a speech later to her party conference. | She will make the promise during a speech later to her party conference. |
Ms Dugdale is expected to say that the country still bears the scars of the September 2014 vote. | Ms Dugdale is expected to say that the country still bears the scars of the September 2014 vote. |
The Perth conference has heard UK Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson talk of his "huge disappointment" at not winning the Stoke by-election. | The Perth conference has heard UK Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson talk of his "huge disappointment" at not winning the Stoke by-election. |
He told those gathered: "All of us with leadership roles in the Labour Party need to have a long hard look at ourselves at what's not working. Seven years into a Tory government we should not be facing questions about whether we can retain seats we already hold. | He told those gathered: "All of us with leadership roles in the Labour Party need to have a long hard look at ourselves at what's not working. Seven years into a Tory government we should not be facing questions about whether we can retain seats we already hold. |
"Our job at the next general election is to gain over 100 seats - keeping what we have is supposed to be the easy bit and here in Scotland you have seen what happened when Labour's long standing supporters stop voting Labour. | "Our job at the next general election is to gain over 100 seats - keeping what we have is supposed to be the easy bit and here in Scotland you have seen what happened when Labour's long standing supporters stop voting Labour. |
"We cannot afford to have that happening in England too." | "We cannot afford to have that happening in England too." |
Ms Dugdale, who will address her conference in the afternoon, will reaffirm the party's opposition to a second referendum. | Ms Dugdale, who will address her conference in the afternoon, will reaffirm the party's opposition to a second referendum. |
But she will add that she is ready to "step up and make the case for the union" once again if the SNP breaks its vow to not hold another contest. | But she will add that she is ready to "step up and make the case for the union" once again if the SNP breaks its vow to not hold another contest. |
The MSP will also argue that Labour's "historic values can endure even under this greatest threat" and that it will "always put the people of this country first". | The MSP will also argue that Labour's "historic values can endure even under this greatest threat" and that it will "always put the people of this country first". |
'Time Sturgeon changed her tune' | 'Time Sturgeon changed her tune' |
Ms Dugdale's speech comes a day after the party adopted a policy in favour of a federal UK. | Ms Dugdale's speech comes a day after the party adopted a policy in favour of a federal UK. |
She will add: "The Labour Party I lead will never support independence. | She will add: "The Labour Party I lead will never support independence. |
"It's not an escape from Tory rule, it's not an escape from Brexit, it's not an alternative, it's the same old song that the SNP has been singing for decades. | "It's not an escape from Tory rule, it's not an escape from Brexit, it's not an alternative, it's the same old song that the SNP has been singing for decades. |
"It's time Nicola Sturgeon changed her tune. | "It's time Nicola Sturgeon changed her tune. |
"I want the first minister of Scotland to focus on the Scottish NHS, on our economy and on our schools. I don't want a first minister whose priority is the constitution." | "I want the first minister of Scotland to focus on the Scottish NHS, on our economy and on our schools. I don't want a first minister whose priority is the constitution." |