This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7065783.stm

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
First minister pledges M8 upgrade Call over independence referendum
(about 1 hour later)
The First Minister Alex Salmond has used his conference speech to announce an end-to-end motorway upgrade between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has urged his Unionist rivals to find a way to back an independence referendum.
He told delegates at the Aviemore gathering that it was not acceptable that the M8 remained part motorway part dual carriageway. The SNP leader's comments came as he addressed the party's first conference since winning power in May.
Mr Salmond was given a rousing welcome from the hundreds gathered to hear him. He also announced an end-to-end motorway upgrade between Edinburgh and Glasgow and plans to cut quangos.
Earlier on Sunday, the SNP leader said that he believed the time was right for England to have its own parliament. Mr Salmond told delegates at the Aviemore gathering that it was not acceptable that the M8 remained part motorway, part dual carriageway.
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. It is understood that the current dualled section - Baillieston to Newhouse - will be upgraded to motorway and there will be associated upgrades at Raith.
"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, who was given a rousing welcome from the hundreds gathered to hear him, said he would not shirk from making his minority government the best it could be within a devolved UK.
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 thanks But the Nationalist politician said that every passing day as first minister made him more certain of the need of independence, as he announced that doing so would lift Scotland from 10th to 3rd in the European league of prosperity.
Mr Salmond's conference speech to the party's Aviemore gathering is the most high profile of his political career. We are not simply trying to build a proud nation, but rather build a nation of which we can be proud, Alex SalmondFirst Minister
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. The SNP currently does not have enough parliamentary support to pass a bill on an independence referendum, planned for 2010, but a multi-option ballot would contain a question on more powers for the Scottish Parliament.
He said that government was full of tough choices, but it was vital to make the right choices. Mr Salmond told delegates: "If the Unionist parties can agree a scheme, then let them come forward and have it tested against independence and be judged by the people.
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. "If not, then do not let them try to prevent the people from having their say. Because it is the same people who will decide the next government of Scotland."
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. He said the planned M8 upgrade was good news for business, adding: "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."
"I would like to see people in England have the same rights and entitlements as those in Scotland." Mr Salmond also announced his intention to cut, by a quarter, Scotland's quangos and government agencies from the current level of 199, in the drive for more efficiency.
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. 'Winning the argument'
He spoke of "restrictions" placed on the administration from the UK Treasury in light of the spending review announcement, but vowed to make it work.
"We are not simply trying to build a proud nation, but rather build a nation of which we can be proud," said Mr Salmond, before then outlining a list of announcements made by his ministers since coming to power.
The M8 is the main link between Glasgow and EdinburghThe 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 first minister said the case for independence had to be taken to the Scottish people and the argument won on its merits.
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." He said: "Winning the argument for independence and delivering good government for Scotland are two sides of the same coin.
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 better we govern, the stronger the case."
The conference comes before the minority administration next month sets out its Scottish budget for the next three-and-a-half years. Mr Salmond went on: "The challenge to this government and to this party to embody the Scottish national interest - to stand up for Scotland and inspire a generation.
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. "This party and this government intends to do precisely that."
On his political rivals, the first minister said that while the Scottish Tories seemed anxious to come to terms with the "new politics" of minority government, he criticised Westminster Labour for the Scottish election fiasco.
And he asked whether the real crisis within the Liberal Democrats was the departure of UK leader Menzies Campbell or the continuation of Scottish leader Nicol Stephen, Scotland's former deputy first minister, in the role.