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| Unions reject independence stance | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Labour has welcomed renewed support from trades union leaders after they voted to reject independence. | |
| The move by the Scottish Trades Union Congress followed an internal union dispute over whether to endorse the party at the Holyrood election. | The move by the Scottish Trades Union Congress followed an internal union dispute over whether to endorse the party at the Holyrood election. |
| Meanwhile, the SNP, SSP and Solidarity were at the event in Glasgow, claiming that union backing for Labour was undergoing a sea change. | Meanwhile, the SNP, SSP and Solidarity were at the event in Glasgow, claiming that union backing for Labour was undergoing a sea change. |
| The comments came as Labour leader Jack McConnell addressed congress. | The comments came as Labour leader Jack McConnell addressed congress. |
| The STUC's general council earlier narrowly agreed to issue a statement endorsing Labour, because many smaller unions decline to intervene in elections. | The STUC's general council earlier narrowly agreed to issue a statement endorsing Labour, because many smaller unions decline to intervene in elections. |
| Delegates also voted overwhelmingly to warn that independence would be "economically damaging to union members and their families". | Delegates also voted overwhelmingly to warn that independence would be "economically damaging to union members and their families". |
| 'Protection racket' | 'Protection racket' |
| In his speech, Mr McConnell said the SNP's local tax plans would hit hard-working families. | In his speech, Mr McConnell said the SNP's local tax plans would hit hard-working families. |
| But, also visiting congress, the SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon spotlighted Nationalist plans to offer an alternative to the Public Private Partnership for building schools and hospitals. | But, also visiting congress, the SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon spotlighted Nationalist plans to offer an alternative to the Public Private Partnership for building schools and hospitals. |
| She criticised Labour's "privatisation agenda", claiming the use of private finance initiatives (PFIs) and public private partnerships (PPP) had led to the loss of vital local health services. | She criticised Labour's "privatisation agenda", claiming the use of private finance initiatives (PFIs) and public private partnerships (PPP) had led to the loss of vital local health services. |
| The SNP manifesto has made clear that councils and other public bodies would be able to choose how to fund building projects, but the party insisted their plans for not-for-profit trusts would "crowd out" PFI/PPP over time. | The SNP manifesto has made clear that councils and other public bodies would be able to choose how to fund building projects, but the party insisted their plans for not-for-profit trusts would "crowd out" PFI/PPP over time. |
| "Our new approach will put people before profiteering and communities before centralisation," she said. | "Our new approach will put people before profiteering and communities before centralisation," she said. |
| "This will offer better value finance through bond issue and, I believe, over time crowd out the costly PFI/PPP." | "This will offer better value finance through bond issue and, I believe, over time crowd out the costly PFI/PPP." |
| Solidarity leader Tommy Sheridan added: "Labour is no longer the party of the trade unions, more a protection racket for millionaires and big business." | Solidarity leader Tommy Sheridan added: "Labour is no longer the party of the trade unions, more a protection racket for millionaires and big business." |