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Salmond makes conference speech First minister pledges M8 upgrade
(19 minutes later)
First Minister Alex Salmond has begun delivering his keynote speech to the Scottish National Party conference. The First Minister Alex Salmond has used his conference speech to announce an end-to-end motorway upgrade between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Earlier on Sunday, the Nationalist politician said that he believed the time was right for England to have its own parliament. He told delegates at the Aviemore gathering that it was not acceptable that the M8 remained part motorway part dual carriageway.
The comment came during an interview on BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show. Mr Salmond was given a rousing welcome from the hundreds gathered to hear him.
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. Earlier on Sunday, the SNP leader said that he believed the time was right for England to have its own parliament.
Mr Salmond's conference speech to the party's Aviemore gathering is the most high profile of his political career. Soon into his conference address, Mr Salmond told delegates: "I want to give our businesses and citizens some good news about the M8 link between Edinburgh and Glasgow - which is part motorway and part dual carriageway.
Earlier on Sunday, he told Andrew Marr that government was full of tough choices, but it was vital to make the right choices. "In our view, that is not acceptable in 21st century Scotland and I can therefore tell conference there will finally be a complete, end-to-end motorway between our two great cities."
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's conference speech to the party's Aviemore gathering is the most high profile of his political career.
During an interview on BBC One's Andrew Marr show, Mr Salmond said it was right for Scotland to be in charge of its expenditure and England to be in charge of its expenditure.
He said that government was full of tough choices, but it was vital to make the right choices.
Mr Salmond added 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: "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 M8 is the main link between Glasgow and Edinburgh
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."
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.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.
The conference comes before the minority administration next month sets out its Scottish budget for the next three-and-a-half years.The conference comes 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.