JEREMY CORBYN has urged Scottish voters to vote for an authentic left-wing party in the form of Labour rather than the “poor imitation” of the SNP.
In a speech to activists in Dunfermline last night, the UK Labour leader attacked the “abysmal failure” of the SNP in government, because of its focus on independence.
Mr Corbyn also ruled out any kind of post-election coalition with the SNP.
He said: “Why vote for a poor imitation that has overseen an increase in child poverty and the biggest increase since devolution of those people classified as poor despite being at work, when you can have the real thing in the progressive Labour Party?
“Remember, this is not a referendum, it’s a General Election and only Labour can form another Government and offer an alternative that will transform the lives of Scots.”
Mr Corbyn, who was on his first campaign visit north of the Border, said 260,000 children in Scotland now lived in poverty, an increase of 40,000 on the previous year.
He said: “These statistics are people. They are people whose opportunities to lead contented and fulfilling lives have been reduced as a result of political decisions. Political decisions made by Tories in Westminster and the SNP at Holyrood. Many Scots rightly expect the Scottish Parliament to protect them from the vicious Tories.
“It is a disgrace the SNP have not fought for these people and against poverty and inequality in the same way they have fought for independence.”
After early speculation about a “progressive alliance” of Labour, the SNP and other parties keeping the Tories out of power, Mr Corbyn said: “Let me make it clear. The only Progressive Alliance today, just as it always has been, is the Labour and trade union movement.
“If you want progressive policies that deliver social justice, fairness and equality then you should vote for the Labour Party and no other party. There will be no deals with the SNP.” Earlier, Mr Corbyn addressed the Scottish Trades Union Congress in Aviemore.
He said a Labour government would offer an “economic and political alternative” to the Conservatives, and repeated pledges to repeal Tory trade union legislation, introduce a £10 minimum wage, ban zero hour contracts and crack down on tax avoidance and evasion.
He also announced a “right to own”, giving workers first refusal to buy out employers facing closure or a change of ownership.
A recent opinion poll in Scotland put support for Labour at 13 per cent, compared to 33 for the Tories and 44 for the SNP.
Also at the STUC, Nicola Sturgeon attacked Mr Corbyn over confusion on Trident, after he initially said it would be under review, only for Labour HQ to say party policy was to keep it.
She said: “Labour on Trident is as confused as Labour is on so many other issues. That gets to the heart of Labour’s lack of credibility as an alternative government.”
Earlier, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon claimed Mr Corbyn would put Britain’s security at risk and said his comments on the issue had been “irresponsible.”
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