Only a Scottish Parliament with complete powers can protect Scotland from the worst of the Tory regime and grow the economy said SNP leader Alex Salmond as he set out the case for Scotland to have the full powers of independence and branded Iain Gray chief spokesman for the ConDem coalition as Labour lead the arguments for the Tories tax trap.

Addressing the SNP’s National Council meeting in Perth Mr Salmond said the vote on student fees showed that the only way to protect the values people in Scotland cherish is with a parliament in Edinburgh with complete powers.

Addressing delegates Mr Salmond said:

“In May next year voters in Scotland will face a choice.  They can re-elect an SNP Government that will continue to put Scotland’s priorities first, grow our economy and protect Scottish values or they can back a Labour party leader who is currently the chief spokesman for the Tories tax trap.

“As a party and as a government we are focussed on the welfare of the Scottish people. In contrast the Tories, backed by the Lib Dems and promoted by Labour, are putting forward a tax plan that would have cost us £8 billion over the past ten years.  That is a Tory tax trap and with Labour’s continued support it will snap shut on Scotland’s public services.

“The key test of further financial powers must be about whether they promote economic growth.  These proposals do not deliver that.  They fall far short of the fiscal levers Scotland needs and, worse than that, they pose real risk to future public finances in Scotland.

“When the Treasury rejected full fiscal responsibility we put forward the tax powers favoured by the Liberal Democrats – all income tax, corporation tax, fuel duty, the climate change levy.  Yet once again the LibDems put sharing power with the Tories before powers for the people of Scotland.

“And off-shore, where responsibility for the marine environment and devolution of the Crown Estate could make such a difference as we seek to create thousands of new green jobs the opposition parties led by Labour have backed down and given up Scotland’s fight.

“In the coming months, in parliament and on the streets of our towns and cities, the challenge for the SNP is to show that, while the opposition are putting our economy in danger, independence and financial responsibility can deliver a better future for Scotland.”

Demonstrating how increasing the powers of the Parliament can protect Scotland’s values Mr Salmond continued:

“This week the Scottish Parliament has shown that with power over tuition fees we can and will protect students in Scotland from the worst ravages of Tory ideology.

“Labour MPs for all their huffing and puffing could not stop tuition fees but the powers of the Scottish Parliament mean we are able to protect Scottish students from the Tories ideological attack on higher education.  With power over education we can preserve a high quality Scottish system based on ability to learn, not ability to pay.  That is the kind of cherished Scottish value that the powers of this Parliament allow us to protect.

“On taxes, on welfare, on support for our most vulnerable it is not with Labour MPs in Westminster, but with full powers for the Scottish Parliament that we will be able to support Scottish values, Scottish families and Scottish jobs against the dismal decade of cuts coming from London and that is why more and more people recognise that there is a better way - that with independence we can make Scotland better.”