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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Blair tells SNP to debate policy | Blair tells SNP to debate policy |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Prime Minister Tony Blair has accused the SNP of attacking him on Iraq to avoid debating policy in the Scottish Parliament election campaign. | Prime Minister Tony Blair has accused the SNP of attacking him on Iraq to avoid debating policy in the Scottish Parliament election campaign. |
| Mr Blair said the Nationalist leader Alex Salmond was stooping to "personal insults" to win votes. | |
| Mr Blair was addressing Labour's youth conference on the second day of his trip to Scotland. | |
| Mr Salmond responded by challenging the prime minister to a debate on the issues facing Scotland. | Mr Salmond responded by challenging the prime minister to a debate on the issues facing Scotland. |
| Speaking to BBC Scotland, Mr Blair cited Labour's record in power in London and Edinburgh, on areas such as the economy and social legislation. | Speaking to BBC Scotland, Mr Blair cited Labour's record in power in London and Edinburgh, on areas such as the economy and social legislation. |
| He said: "You mention the issues to do with Iraq - that's not what's going to be determined in the Scottish election and the SNP know that. | |
| "So why is it that they are going on that issue? | "So why is it that they are going on that issue? |
| Scotland's future | Scotland's future |
| "They are going on it because they don't actually want to have a debate about the future of Scotland and the future of the policies that are going to be determined by the Scottish election." | "They are going on it because they don't actually want to have a debate about the future of Scotland and the future of the policies that are going to be determined by the Scottish election." |
| Mr Blair acknowledged he might not be regarded by everyone as an asset to Labour's Holyrood campaign. | Mr Blair acknowledged he might not be regarded by everyone as an asset to Labour's Holyrood campaign. |
| His address to Labour's youth conference came at the same time as Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell opened his Scottish party conference in Aviemore. | |
| Mr Salmond challenged Mr Blair to a debate on Scotland's future | |
| Mr Blair told the meeting of the benefits already gained for Scotland through "partnership" working by Westminster and Edinburgh. | |
| He said: "So when we come to these elections, I don't want people to vote out of fear of separation - although of course its negative impact on living standards and economic investment is all too clear. | |
| "I actually want people excited about the prospect of even greater progress and prosperity through a modern union of nations who know they are stronger together than apart." | |
| Mr Salmond said First Minister Jack McConnell had repeatedly refused to debate Scotland's future with him. | Mr Salmond said First Minister Jack McConnell had repeatedly refused to debate Scotland's future with him. |
| "Yet Mr Blair says that it is the SNP who don't want to debate the policies," said Mr Salmond. | "Yet Mr Blair says that it is the SNP who don't want to debate the policies," said Mr Salmond. |
| "It just shows how out of touch Tony Blair is." | |
| He said Scotland had the choice between sticking with a failed Labour Party, or choosing a better, more successful future with the SNP. | He said Scotland had the choice between sticking with a failed Labour Party, or choosing a better, more successful future with the SNP. |
| On Thursday Mr Blair visited Easterhouse in Glasgow before addressing party activists. | On Thursday Mr Blair visited Easterhouse in Glasgow before addressing party activists. |