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 Prime Minister Tony Blair"What do you expect Jim Wallace to say - he's the Liberal Democrat leader"  real 28k |
PM praises Scots coalition
Tony Blair has already addressed the Scottish Parliament
Prime Minister Tony Blair has moved to placate the Liberal Democrats in Scotland, amid reports that he snubbed them in his speech to the Scottish Parliament.
As he prepared to address the Scottish Labour Party on Friday, Mr Blair was under pressure from the coalition partners in the Scottish Executive, who were not mentioned in his speech to MSPs.
As he prepared to address the Scottish Labour Party on Friday, Mr Blair was under pressure from the coalition partners in the Scottish Executive, who were not mentioned in his speech to MSPs.
 The Liberal Democrats always say they want more money for everything. That's the Liberal Democrat refrain  |
Tony Blair |
Mr Blair told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I was astonished to hear this morning that apparently my speech to the Scottish Parliament was a snub to the Liberal Democrats because I didn't mention the things that they were doing.
"But the Scottish Executive are doing these things together, the nursery education, the land reform etc."
Tax cut call
Mr Blair also dismissed a call by the leader of the Liberal Democrats in Scotland, Jim Wallace, for more money to come to the Scottish executive.
In a move timed to coincide with Mr Blair's visit, Mr Wallace said:"Gordon Brown must abandon the planned one pence income tax cut in April and make the necessary funds available to the Scottish Executive to invest in hospitals and schools."
Mr Blair responded: "He's in the government of Scotland, the Scottish Executive. The Liberal Democrats always say they want more money for everything.
"That's the Liberal Democrat refrain. I understand that. But actually , as an executive, I think they're working well."
The prime minister's address to his party in Scotland is expected to be much more political than the one to the parliament.
Party murmurings
Although he will praise the way devolution is working, he is also acutely aware of the disquiet in sections of the party over the performance of the Scottish Executive.
Some Scottish Westminster MPs have questioned the leadership of First Minister Donald Dewar. Other party activists have expressed worries about proposals for proportional representation in local government.
Mr Blair's message is expected to be uncompromising.
He will spell out his government's record on jobs, the economy and help for poorer families and say that Scotland now has a government "in tune with the concerns of its people and its values".
But Mr Blair is expected to say: "The best defence to the charge that we are not delivering in the heartlands is our record and it's the job of the whole party to get that message over."
He will acknowledge that government is a lot harder than opposition and that the party's role is to defend and sustain the government
Nationalism 'outdated'
Mr Blair wants a second term in order to deliver the "fundamental transformation of Britain."
He believes new Labour is "uniquely placed to do that" because there is little evidence of people wanting the Tories back in government.
Mr Blair will also stress his view that nationalism is being rejected as outdated and out of tune with the times.
Immediate concern among party activists is for the forthcoming Ayr by-election.
Newspaper polls predict Labour will be pushed into third place when the votes are counted next Thursday evening.
Before the speech to Scottish Labour Party members, Mr Blair is attending engagements in Glasgow and Edinburgh where he will focus on the issue job creation, but he will not visit Ayr.
He says that is in line with previous by-elections, where he has not visited consituencies prior to the vote.
"But the Scottish Executive are doing these things together, the nursery education, the land reform etc."
Tax cut call
Mr Blair also dismissed a call by the leader of the Liberal Democrats in Scotland, Jim Wallace, for more money to come to the Scottish executive.
In a move timed to coincide with Mr Blair's visit, Mr Wallace said:"Gordon Brown must abandon the planned one pence income tax cut in April and make the necessary funds available to the Scottish Executive to invest in hospitals and schools."
 Jim Wallace wants more money for Scotland |
"That's the Liberal Democrat refrain. I understand that. But actually , as an executive, I think they're working well."
The prime minister's address to his party in Scotland is expected to be much more political than the one to the parliament.
Party murmurings
Although he will praise the way devolution is working, he is also acutely aware of the disquiet in sections of the party over the performance of the Scottish Executive.
Some Scottish Westminster MPs have questioned the leadership of First Minister Donald Dewar. Other party activists have expressed worries about proposals for proportional representation in local government.
Mr Blair's message is expected to be uncompromising.
 Donald Dewar: Doubts over leadership |
But Mr Blair is expected to say: "The best defence to the charge that we are not delivering in the heartlands is our record and it's the job of the whole party to get that message over."
He will acknowledge that government is a lot harder than opposition and that the party's role is to defend and sustain the government
Nationalism 'outdated'
Mr Blair wants a second term in order to deliver the "fundamental transformation of Britain."
He believes new Labour is "uniquely placed to do that" because there is little evidence of people wanting the Tories back in government.
Mr Blair will also stress his view that nationalism is being rejected as outdated and out of tune with the times.
Immediate concern among party activists is for the forthcoming Ayr by-election.
Newspaper polls predict Labour will be pushed into third place when the votes are counted next Thursday evening.
Before the speech to Scottish Labour Party members, Mr Blair is attending engagements in Glasgow and Edinburgh where he will focus on the issue job creation, but he will not visit Ayr.
He says that is in line with previous by-elections, where he has not visited consituencies prior to the vote.
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