Labour tells Scots to prepare for things to get worse, not better

Jim Murphy, former Labour Scottish Secretary and Europe Minister, contrasted Tony Blair’s winning “things can only get better” election slogan with the higher mortgage prices, higher shopping bills, job losses, flight of industry, oil shocks and financial upheaval which he claimed would follow a Yes vote.

Scots eager for change have been urged to vote No in order to gain “further devolved change as part of the UK” rather than the “undisputed disruptive change” of independence.

Mr Murphy said independence could lead to an extra £1,600 on the average mortgage, £160 on the average credit card bill and £359 on the average annual shopping bill, based on recent projections.

Labour will set out its proposals for further devolution tomorrow. The Liberal Democrats published its latest “home rule” report last week while the Conservatives pledged more devolution at its conference at the weekend.

No party has offered a guarantee of specific powers ahead of the referendum, leading to nationalist accusations that they are offering “half-baked” promises.

Mr Murphy suggested devolution of tax, wages and welfare powers could feature in Labour’s offering.

Scottish Youth Employment Minister Angela Constance said: “This is a deeply hypocritical speech from someone who failed to show up when the SNP tried to stop the Tories abolishing the 50p tax rate, whose party abolished the 10p tax rate and who is part of a campaign almost entirely funded by Tory business figures.”