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Salmond issuing independence call
21 October 2011 Last updated at 19:20 ET
SNP leader Alex Salmond will issue an independence rallying call, as he addresses his party’s first conference since its landslide election win.
The Scottish first minister will say that while full financial powers for Holyrood would be welcome, they cannot offer the benefits of independence.
The Scottish government is staging an independence referendum towards the end of the five-year parliament.
Mr Salmond will say the move will help Scotland “flourish like never before”.
The Holyrood government has come under fire from opponents, who say the party is delaying the referendum because it is scared of losing.
And they also say the SNP’s tacit support for the alternative of full fiscal responsibility, known as “devolution max”, which may be included as a second question on the ballot paper, is a “failsafe option” for the party.
Nation ‘flourish’
But the Nationalists say they are sticking to a manifesto commitment on the timetable for the referendum.
Mr Salmond will tell members of the party faithful in Inverness: “Fiscal responsibility, financial freedom, real economic powers is a legitimate proposal.
“It could allow control of our own resources, competitive business tax and fair personal taxation.
“All good, all necessary but not good enough.”
Mr Salmond will tell the third day of the conference: “Trident nuclear missiles would still be on the Clyde, we could still be forced to spill blood in illegal wars, such as Iraq, and we would still be excluded from the councils of Europe and the world.
“These things only independence can bring.
“We have the talent, resources and ingenuity.
“The only limitations are our imagination and our ambition. So give Scotland the tools, put the people of Scotland in charge and see out nation flourish as never before.”
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