This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-28331390

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Scottish independence: Peter Kilfoyle backs Yes vote Scottish independence: Former Labour MP Peter Kilfoyle backs Yes vote
(about 1 hour later)
A former Labour government minister has endorsed Scottish independence.A former Labour government minister has endorsed Scottish independence.
Peter Kilfoyle told BBC Scotland that it was vital for Scotland and the English regions to loosen London's grip on power.Peter Kilfoyle told BBC Scotland that it was vital for Scotland and the English regions to loosen London's grip on power.
The former Liverpool Walton MP was speaking ahead of a speech by Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond in the city.The former Liverpool Walton MP was speaking ahead of a speech by Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond in the city.
Labour has argued that Scots should vote "No" and then help elect a Labour government in the UK general election.Labour has argued that Scots should vote "No" and then help elect a Labour government in the UK general election.
Mr Kilfoyle suggested that the Labour leadership's opposition to independence was motivated by a desire to maintain Scottish Labour MPs at Westminster.Mr Kilfoyle suggested that the Labour leadership's opposition to independence was motivated by a desire to maintain Scottish Labour MPs at Westminster.
Backbench critic
He resigned from Tony Blair's government, where he had been a junior minister in the Ministry of Defence, in 2000, arguing that Labour was neglecting its roots.He resigned from Tony Blair's government, where he had been a junior minister in the Ministry of Defence, in 2000, arguing that Labour was neglecting its roots.
He became a vocal backbench critic of the Labour leadership until standing down as an MP ahead of the 2010 general election.He became a vocal backbench critic of the Labour leadership until standing down as an MP ahead of the 2010 general election.
Earlier this month, another former Labour minister - Leslie Huckfield, who represented the Nuneaton constituency at Westminster but now lives in Perthshire - also said he was backing a "Yes" vote in the referendum.Earlier this month, another former Labour minister - Leslie Huckfield, who represented the Nuneaton constituency at Westminster but now lives in Perthshire - also said he was backing a "Yes" vote in the referendum.
Mr Kilfoyle's endorsement was warmly welcomed by Mr Salmond, who is preparing to make his last speech in England before September's referendum on Scottish independence. Mr Kilfoyle's endorsement was warmly welcomed by Mr Salmond, who was making his last speech in England before September's referendum on Scottish independence.
Ahead of the engagement, Mr Salmond argued that only independence could protect the Scottish NHS from the UK's government's "privatisation agenda". Mr Salmond said: "Peter Kilfoyle is a Labour stalwart, and a much respected figure. This is a significant endorsement for the independence campaign - and it shows that a Yes vote is in line with traditional Labour values.
In 2011, Mr Salmond told a Liverpool audience for the BBC's Question Time programme that they should not allow their NHS to be privatised by the Westminster parties. "Peter understands that what is happening in Scotland is a catalyst for change elsewhere. We've now had a range of key Labour figures endorsing Yes."
Speaking prior to his return to Liverpool, the first minister said the process of "privatisation and fragmentation" of the health service in recent years had been "driven through by Westminster". In his speech at a lunch organised by the FT newspaper on Thursday afternoon, Mr Salmond said that inequality in the UK had grown hugely under successive Westminster governments.
Scottish independence would help to redress that inequality gap while also creating an economic counterweight to London to the benefit of the whole of the UK, he argued.
Mr Salmond said: "The UK now has the highest levels of regional inequality in the European Union.
"Scottish independence will provide a powerful example for those elsewhere in the UK, who are looking at how to change the current system; who want to see a model of growth which is fairer, more sustainable and more resilient than the one being pursued at Westminster.
"In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Liverpool, together with cities such as Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Newcastle had real political power to, as well as economic power.
"Since 2007, London's economy has grown approximately twice as fast as the rest of the United Kingdom's."
Mr Salmond claimed that nothing the UK government was proposing would "even come close" to addressing the scale of the problem.
And he said that local authorities and business organisations in the north of England would be invited to participate in a Scottish economic forum after the referendum aimed at rebalancing the economy.
He said: "It is a practical demonstration of co-operation and partnership - a partnership which will be strengthened further by an outward looking, prosperous and independent Scotland."
Ahead of the speech, Mr Salmond argued that only independence could protect the Scottish NHS from the UK's government's "privatisation agenda".
The NHS is fully devolved to the Scottish Parliament, but Mr Salmond argued that cuts to its budget south of the border also impacted on Scotland.The NHS is fully devolved to the Scottish Parliament, but Mr Salmond argued that cuts to its budget south of the border also impacted on Scotland.
"Scotland is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, with strong public finances," he said. "But, under the Westminster system, cuts to spending in England automatically trigger cuts in Scotland."Scotland is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, with strong public finances," he said. "But, under the Westminster system, cuts to spending in England automatically trigger cuts in Scotland.
"So, if private money replaces public funding in England, our budget will also be slashed no matter what we want or need.""So, if private money replaces public funding in England, our budget will also be slashed no matter what we want or need."
'Progressive beacon' But Scottish Labour's health spokesman, Neil Findlay, claimed it was a "mark of how desperate the first minister has become" that he was "introducing the privatisation of the NHS as a campaign issue".
Mr Salmond predicted that an independent Scotland would be a "progressive beacon" for people elsewhere in the UK who were looking for an alternative to Westminster policies. He said: "Everyone knows it is devolved to the Scottish Parliament and the Tories can't get their hands on our hospitals and health centres.
And the independence referendum on 18 September will be a choice between "more Westminster-driven austerity or the opportunity for new prosperity", he added.
"The Tory-led coalition is determined to cut back the NHS and other public services because of right-wing ideological reasons", Mr Salmond said.
"It is proposing huge cuts which will reduce day-to-day public spending as a proportion of national income to its lowest level since 1948."
Scottish Labour's health spokesman, Neil Findlay, claimed it was a "mark of how desperate the first minister has become" that he was "introducing the privatisation of the NHS as a campaign issue".
"Everyone knows it is devolved to the Scottish Parliament and the Tories can't get their hands on our hospitals and health centres," he said.
"The Yes campaign has failed to make the case for Scottish independence and has resorted to negative scaremongering and misinformation. The people of Scotland won't be fooled and neither will the people of Liverpool."The Yes campaign has failed to make the case for Scottish independence and has resorted to negative scaremongering and misinformation. The people of Scotland won't be fooled and neither will the people of Liverpool.
"We are more concerned about the SNP's running of our NHS, which Scotland's top doctor described as a 'car crash'. Properly resourcing our hard-working doctors and nurses should be their focus right now."We are more concerned about the SNP's running of our NHS, which Scotland's top doctor described as a 'car crash'. Properly resourcing our hard-working doctors and nurses should be their focus right now.
"The real threat to our NHS is a Yes vote and the billions of pounds in public spending cuts that will come to Scotland if Alex Salmond gets his way."The real threat to our NHS is a Yes vote and the billions of pounds in public spending cuts that will come to Scotland if Alex Salmond gets his way.
"Cuts to our schools and hospitals are not a price worth paying for Alex Salmond's dream of independence.""Cuts to our schools and hospitals are not a price worth paying for Alex Salmond's dream of independence."