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| Lib Dems want Holyrood tax powers | Lib Dems want Holyrood tax powers |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Holyrood should be given more powers - including the right to raise its own revenue, according to the Scottish Liberal Democrats. | Holyrood should be given more powers - including the right to raise its own revenue, according to the Scottish Liberal Democrats. |
| Party leader Nicol Stephen told his party's autumn conference that it was "simply not acceptable" for Holyrood to survive on a grant from Westminster. | Party leader Nicol Stephen told his party's autumn conference that it was "simply not acceptable" for Holyrood to survive on a grant from Westminster. |
| Mr Stephen also called for the NHS 24 health hotline to be replaced by a better system. | Mr Stephen also called for the NHS 24 health hotline to be replaced by a better system. |
| The one-day Lib Dem conference was taking place in Glasgow. | The one-day Lib Dem conference was taking place in Glasgow. |
| Mr Stephen told delegates that his party is "determined to develop and deliver a better alternative" to the block grant, including new devolved tax powers. | Mr Stephen told delegates that his party is "determined to develop and deliver a better alternative" to the block grant, including new devolved tax powers. |
| Scotland's public spending budget adds up to £30bn annually, but is mostly settled - and paid for - by the Treasury in Whitehall. | Scotland's public spending budget adds up to £30bn annually, but is mostly settled - and paid for - by the Treasury in Whitehall. |
| Holyrood has a limited power to vary income tax, but has never used it. | Holyrood has a limited power to vary income tax, but has never used it. |
| I have seen it [NHS 24] threaten the safety of my own family and take the lives of too many vulnerable people Nicol StephenScottish Liberal Democrat leader | |
| Supporters of such a switch say it would make Holyrood more responsible to the voters, but critics have argued it could introduce added uncertainty. | Supporters of such a switch say it would make Holyrood more responsible to the voters, but critics have argued it could introduce added uncertainty. |
| Chancellor Alistair Darling will announce his latest UK spending package on Tuesday. Details for Scotland will be announced later by Scottish Government ministers. | Chancellor Alistair Darling will announce his latest UK spending package on Tuesday. Details for Scotland will be announced later by Scottish Government ministers. |
| Mr Stephen also called for a more personalised service to be introduced to replace NHS 24 and an end to the distinction between daytime and out-of-hour services - quoting his own family's experience. | Mr Stephen also called for a more personalised service to be introduced to replace NHS 24 and an end to the distinction between daytime and out-of-hour services - quoting his own family's experience. |
| He told the conference that the "misnamed" NHS 24 is trying to cover for a "glaring gap" in local care, adding: "I have seen it threaten the safety of my own family and take the lives of too many vulnerable people, young and old alike." | He told the conference that the "misnamed" NHS 24 is trying to cover for a "glaring gap" in local care, adding: "I have seen it threaten the safety of my own family and take the lives of too many vulnerable people, young and old alike." |
| Sir Menzies Campbell said the party was ready for an election | |
| Aides have refused to explain what Mr Stephen, a father of four, meant by the reference to his family. | Aides have refused to explain what Mr Stephen, a father of four, meant by the reference to his family. |
| UK party leader Sir Menzies Campbell used his speech to the conference to issue a challenge to Prime Minister Gordon Brown to end election speculation by declaring his intentions "clearly and unequivocally". | UK party leader Sir Menzies Campbell used his speech to the conference to issue a challenge to Prime Minister Gordon Brown to end election speculation by declaring his intentions "clearly and unequivocally". |
| He said the process of government had been damaged by election fever and claimed that whenever the election was called, his party would "rattle the cage" of British politics. | He said the process of government had been damaged by election fever and claimed that whenever the election was called, his party would "rattle the cage" of British politics. |
| "It's time to end the shadow boxing, it's time to end this abuse of his constitutional privilege. The British people are entitled to nothing less," he said. | "It's time to end the shadow boxing, it's time to end this abuse of his constitutional privilege. The British people are entitled to nothing less," he said. |
| Sir Menzies also took on critics of his own leadership as he added: "Let me tell you this. | Sir Menzies also took on critics of his own leadership as he added: "Let me tell you this. |
| "I will lead this party into the next election with energy, ambition and determination because the stakes have never been higher and liberalism has never been needed more that it is today." | "I will lead this party into the next election with energy, ambition and determination because the stakes have never been higher and liberalism has never been needed more that it is today." |
| Debates at the conference will include calls for the drink-driving limit to be lowered, for asylum-seeking families to have the right to work and continue with their education, and for Scotland not to follow England's "draconian" path on the retention of DNA samples from people not charged with an offence. | Debates at the conference will include calls for the drink-driving limit to be lowered, for asylum-seeking families to have the right to work and continue with their education, and for Scotland not to follow England's "draconian" path on the retention of DNA samples from people not charged with an offence. |