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Salmond backs English parliament Salmond makes conference speech
(about 3 hours later)
First Minister Alex Salmond believes the time is right for England to have its own parliament. First Minister Alex Salmond has begun delivering his keynote speech to the Scottish National Party conference.
He made the comment during an interview on BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show. Earlier on Sunday, the Nationalist politician said that he believed the time was right for England to have its own parliament.
The comment came during an interview on BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show.
The Scottish National Party leader said it was right for Scotland to be in charge of its expenditure and England to be in charge of its expenditure.The Scottish National Party leader said it was right for Scotland to be in charge of its expenditure and England to be in charge of its expenditure.
Mr Salmond is due to deliver the most high profile conference speech of his political career later at his party's Aviemore gathering. Mr Salmond's conference speech to the party's Aviemore gathering is the most high profile of his political career.
He told Andrew Marr that government was full of tough choices, but it was vital to make the right choices. Earlier on Sunday, he told Andrew Marr that government was full of tough choices, but it was vital to make the right choices.
Mr Salmond said that he was certain the "energy" for Scottish independence would come from people in Scotland, but he accepted that people in England wanted to see a future English government.Mr Salmond said that he was certain the "energy" for Scottish independence would come from people in Scotland, but he accepted that people in England wanted to see a future English government.
SNP CONFERENCE - DAY THREE 0900 - conference resumes0930 - election of national secretary1000 - Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill's speech1020 - resolutions on Ofgem; cycle revolution and farmers markets 1115 - national secretary election results1130 - Resolutions flooding; carbon neutral Biggar; energy, economy and environment and beef imports1210 - Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead's speech 1400 - results of national executive and other internal elections1420 - topical and emergency resolutions1450 - resolutions on methadone; health improvement; organ donation; Gaelic medium education; classroom assistants and Livingstone scholars opt-out1530 - First Minister Alex Salmond's speech 1600 - resolutions1700 - vote of thanksSNP CONFERENCE - DAY THREE 0900 - conference resumes0930 - election of national secretary1000 - Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill's speech1020 - resolutions on Ofgem; cycle revolution and farmers markets 1115 - national secretary election results1130 - Resolutions flooding; carbon neutral Biggar; energy, economy and environment and beef imports1210 - Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead's speech 1400 - results of national executive and other internal elections1420 - topical and emergency resolutions1450 - resolutions on methadone; health improvement; organ donation; Gaelic medium education; classroom assistants and Livingstone scholars opt-out1530 - First Minister Alex Salmond's speech 1600 - resolutions1700 - vote of thanks
Mr Salmond said: "I think the right solution is to have a Scottish Parliament and an English Parliament - I believe independent parliaments - and to do the job properly, as opposed to having some sort of spatchcock solution to appeal for votes in middle England.Mr Salmond said: "I think the right solution is to have a Scottish Parliament and an English Parliament - I believe independent parliaments - and to do the job properly, as opposed to having some sort of spatchcock solution to appeal for votes in middle England.
"I would like to see people in England have the same rights and entitlements as those in Scotland.""I would like to see people in England have the same rights and entitlements as those in Scotland."
The party has already launched a "national conversation" on independence, and a poll in the Scottish Sunday Mail suggested growing support in England for Scottish independence.The party has already launched a "national conversation" on independence, and a poll in the Scottish Sunday Mail suggested growing support in England for Scottish independence.
The poll said 33% of those questioned favoured England being independent of Scotland, compared to 31% in the same poll a year ago.The poll said 33% of those questioned favoured England being independent of Scotland, compared to 31% in the same poll a year ago.
Asked on the programme about contrasts between England and Scotland on matters like free personal care of the elderly and the abolition of tuition fees north of the border, he said: "Perhaps the answer is to elect a government in England of English MPs who want to implement these policies south of the border."Asked on the programme about contrasts between England and Scotland on matters like free personal care of the elderly and the abolition of tuition fees north of the border, he said: "Perhaps the answer is to elect a government in England of English MPs who want to implement these policies south of the border."
During his conference speech, due to be delivered at 1530 GMT on Sunday, the first minister is expected to set out a three-stage approach to government. Mr Salmond's speech is being delivered on the final day of the get-together - the SNP's first since winning power in the May election.
Economic growth The conference comes before the minority administration next month sets out its Scottish budget for the next three-and-a-half years.
Mr Salmond's keynote speech will come on the final day of the get-together - the SNP's first since winning power in the May election.
He is expected to underline plans for a 2010 independence referendum as well as action to boost the economy.
The first six months of Nationalist rule, Mr Salmond will say, had already set Scotland in a new direction, with the first steps taken to provide a "clear purpose" for the public sector.
The speech, on Sunday afternoon, will come before the minority administration next month sets out its Scottish budget for the next three-and-a-half years.
The Treasury announced that Scottish Government spending would go up by between £1.2bn to £3.7bn each year to make a total increase of £7.2bn.The Treasury announced that Scottish Government spending would go up by between £1.2bn to £3.7bn each year to make a total increase of £7.2bn.
Mr Salmond, who claimed the figures were misleading, will use his speech to say that a "re-focusing" of efforts in light of the "tightest financial settlement since devolution" could meet the aspirations of the Scottish people.
A spokesman for Mr Salmond said: "The Scottish government's central purpose is to build a more successful Scotland with higher sustainable economic growth.
"As we deliver an improving economy and public services over the rest of this term, we will also seek to set out what more Scotland can achieve through independence."