Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

UK General Election 2015: Anti-Labour protesters chant 'traitors' outside Ed Miliband speech in Glasgow

The protesters feel betrayed by the Labour Party

Ben Tufft
Saturday 02 May 2015 12:54 EDT
Comments
Protesters attempted outside the Labour rally
Protesters attempted outside the Labour rally (Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Pro-Scottish independence protesters brandished “Red Tories Out” placards and shouted “traitors” ahead of a speech by Ed Miliband in Glasgow.

Mr Miliband was in the Scottish city for a rally with Jim Murphy, the leader of Scottish Labour, to urge people to vote Labour at the election, not SNP on Friday.

The Scottish independence protesters shouted "traitors" (Getty)
The Scottish independence protesters shouted "traitors" (Getty)

It is a mark of how extreme opposition to the Labour Party now is among many Scottish voters and how much ground the party has to make up before the General Election.

Recent polls have suggested that Labour will be wiped out in Scotland, with the SNP winning more than 50 of the country’s 59 parliamentary seats.

In his speech Mr Miliband championed his party’s commitment to a progressive programme in government.

“Our priority is social justice. If you want social justice not separatism, I say to the people of Scotland vote for it, vote Labour, vote for a Labour government,” the Leader of the Opposition said.

He promised to abolish the so-called bedroom tax as his first act in government, “not just in Scotland. But in England. In Wales. Right across out United Kingdom”.

Ed Miliband was joined at the rally by Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy (Getty)
Ed Miliband was joined at the rally by Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy (Getty)

If he becomes the next prime minister, Mr Miliband also said he would vow to make the Scottish Parliament “one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world”.

But SNP deputy leader Stewart Hosie said: “Mr Miliband sacrificed any claim to progressive politics on Thursday night, when he indicated that he would prefer to let the Tories back in to continue their cuts and damage to society for five more years, rather than work with the SNP to keep them out.

“That represents a further abandonment of principle by Labour. It is clear that electing a big group of SNP MPs next Thursday is the way to lock the Tories out of Downing Street, and achieve the decisive position needed to deliver these progressive policies.”

Additional reporting by PA

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in