Miliband appeals to Scottish Labour’s past

Ed Miliband will look to Scottish Labour’s past today, as he looks to bring Scottish voters back to the party in the final week of the election campaign. Fresh from ruling out a deal with the SNP – even if that means no Labour government – Miliband talk of Kier Hardie, Jennie Lee, John Smith and Donald Dewar at a rally in Glasgow. Here’s what he’s expected to say:

“I’ve never pretended that changing our country, standing up to vested interests, building a better Scotland would be easy.

It won’t. It will be hard.

But I want the people of Scotland to join me, join Labour, join people across the United Kingdom, in making it happen.

We could be under a week away from a Labour Government. I don’t want anyone here to look back and wish you had been part of the change we are going to make. Because throughout Scotland’s history you have always been part of change. Always led change.

Imagine all the people you know who have built Labour in Scotland. Your grandparents who fought for their rights in the shipyards and mines across this country. Your mums and dads, many of whom delivered leaflets for Labour or knocked on doors. And remember our great leaders. From Kier Hardie to Jennie Lee. John Smith to Donald Dewar. What would they want today?

We could be on the verge of electing a Labour Government. They would want to be part of it. They would want to be part of building the better future. To be part of booking the removal vans that will roll up outside Downing Street next Friday.

So let’s come together and get the Labour Government that Scotland needs to kick the Tories out on Thursday. Don’t gamble with the SNP. Guarantee change with Labour. And remember throughout history, it’s Labour values that have changed Scotland.

Nationalism never built a school. It never lifted people out of poverty. It never created a welfare state that healed the sick and protected our most vulnerable. It is Labour values, Labour ideas and the determination of people across Scotland that has built this country to what it is today.”