This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/6178804.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Blair urges 'fight for Scotland' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The prime minister has told his party it must fight to defend the running of Scotland from the Nationalists. | |
| Tony Blair was addressing his last Scottish Labour conference in Oban, where he urged activists to redouble their efforts against the SNP. | |
| He said that without Labour, Scotland would never have seen the success it had over the past 10 years. | |
| However, the SNP said Mr Blair was "a crushing liability" for his party's Holyrood election campaign. | |
| Mr Blair led the attack on independence in his speech while First Minister Jack McConnell will use his address to concentrate on his own policy agenda. | |
| BBC Scotland political editor Brian Taylor said: "This will be Tony Blair's last Scottish Labour conference as party leader. | BBC Scotland political editor Brian Taylor said: "This will be Tony Blair's last Scottish Labour conference as party leader. |
| This will be a working conference. A weekend to decide the basis of the policies that will make the lives of Scots better Jack McConnellFirst Minister | This will be a working conference. A weekend to decide the basis of the policies that will make the lives of Scots better Jack McConnellFirst Minister |
| "Some still hope he might hasten his departure - to clear the air before the Holyrood elections in May. | "Some still hope he might hasten his departure - to clear the air before the Holyrood elections in May. |
| "Some London Labour figures are fretting that the Scottish party isn't tough enough on the SNP, but Mr McConnell's aides insist that he has a clear strategy, building to direct confrontation in the run-up to the election." | "Some London Labour figures are fretting that the Scottish party isn't tough enough on the SNP, but Mr McConnell's aides insist that he has a clear strategy, building to direct confrontation in the run-up to the election." |
| The first minister is to use the conference to stress that Scottish Labour should be confident going into the next election. | The first minister is to use the conference to stress that Scottish Labour should be confident going into the next election. |
| His speech will highlight growth in the economy, reductions in hospital waiting times, cutting crime, improving education, creating employment and tackling poverty. | His speech will highlight growth in the economy, reductions in hospital waiting times, cutting crime, improving education, creating employment and tackling poverty. |
| Mr McConnell will tell delegates: "Labour in the Scottish Parliament has already delivered so much. | Mr McConnell will tell delegates: "Labour in the Scottish Parliament has already delivered so much. |
| This failing, discredited prime minister is now on his last legs Alex SalmondSNP leader | This failing, discredited prime minister is now on his last legs Alex SalmondSNP leader |
| "From the smoking ban to tough action on anti-social behaviour, from growing Scotland's economy to the massive investment in schools, Labour has improved Scotland. But we are ambitious for more. | "From the smoking ban to tough action on anti-social behaviour, from growing Scotland's economy to the massive investment in schools, Labour has improved Scotland. But we are ambitious for more. |
| "So this will be a working conference. A weekend to decide the basis of the policies that will make the lives of Scots better. | "So this will be a working conference. A weekend to decide the basis of the policies that will make the lives of Scots better. |
| "No glitz, nor triumphalism. No taking the Scottish people for granted. Just hard work." | "No glitz, nor triumphalism. No taking the Scottish people for granted. Just hard work." |
| Before Mr Blair made his speech, the SNP published details of a poll it had commissioned from YouGov. | Before Mr Blair made his speech, the SNP published details of a poll it had commissioned from YouGov. |
| Political legacy | Political legacy |
| It asked 1,034 people whether they would be more or less likely to vote for Labour if Mr Blair was still prime minister at the time of the Holyrood vote. | It asked 1,034 people whether they would be more or less likely to vote for Labour if Mr Blair was still prime minister at the time of the Holyrood vote. |
| The SNP said 24% said they would be less likely to vote Labour, 7% would be more likely to vote Labour and 60% said it would make no difference. | The SNP said 24% said they would be less likely to vote Labour, 7% would be more likely to vote Labour and 60% said it would make no difference. |
| SNP leader Alex Salmond said: "This failing, discredited prime minister is now on his last legs. | SNP leader Alex Salmond said: "This failing, discredited prime minister is now on his last legs. |
| "These new figures show that his political legacy may be playing a key part in losing the 2007 Scottish election for the Labour Party." | "These new figures show that his political legacy may be playing a key part in losing the 2007 Scottish election for the Labour Party." |