Miliband to urge Scots to stay in UK

Before the speech, he said: “I say lets confront the real divide in our society. Not between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom, but between the haves and the have-nots.

“So, I am not here to tell Scots that Scotland cannot survive outside the United Kingdom.

“But I am here to tell you that we need to make Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland a fairer, more just, place to live.
“And we can do this best together.”

Mr Miliband is also expected to acknowledge Labour’s defeat to the SNP at last May’s Scottish Parliament election.

He will share a stage with Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont, who was made the first overall leader for the party in Scotland before Christmas.

Mr Miliband is expected to offer his support to Ms Lamont’s “long campaign” for the United Kingdom.

His speech comes two weeks after a YouGov poll for Channel 4 News revealed that most Scots – 61 per cent – want to remain in the UK.

Mr Miliband’s speech also comes five days after Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond launched his consultation on the staging of the independence referendum, which he wants to hold in autumn 2014.

At an international press conference at Edinburgh Castle, and earlier inside the Scottish Parliament, Mr Salmond set out his plan to end the three-centuries union with England.

He proposes that voters are asked: do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?

Mr Salmond used a lecture in London last week to describe an independent Scotland as a “beacon for progressive opinion” for those south of the border.
Mr Salmond has proposed a straight yes-no question but left room for further options for enhance devolution, so-called devo-max.