Battle At The Border

Both sides in the Scottish referendum campaign will set out the positives and negatives of independence and remaining part of the union.

The impact of an international border between Scotland and the rest of the UK will dominate talks today.

First Minister Alex Salmond will deliver a speech in Liverpool where he'll focus on the health service.

He'll claim that only a 'yes' vote in September will lift the growing threat of privatisation by Westminster.

Mr Salmond is expected to say:

"In 2011 I told an audience in Liverpool they shouldn’t allow their NHS to be destroyed. But since then the process of privatisation and fragmentation of the health service has been driven through by Westminster.
 
"This is dreadful news for patients in England, but because Westminster holds the purse strings in Scotland, this is potentially damaging for those of us who live north of the border too.
 
"Scotland is one of the wealthiest countries in the world, with strong public finances. But under the Westminster system, cuts to spending in England automatically trigger cuts in Scotland.
 
"So if private money replaces public funding in England, our budget will also be slashed no matter what we want or need.
 
"With independence we will have control of both our tax system and the budget for public services so we can protect the NHS and other vital public services from Westminster privatisation.
 
"We will also be a progressive beacon for those elsewhere across these islands looking for an alternative to Westminster privatisation."

Meanwhile, Better Together campaigners will claim that independence will lead to fewer jobs and opportunities from the so called 'border effect'

Labour's Shadow Scottish Secretary, Margaret Curran MP:

"As part of the UK, Scotland gets the best of both worlds. We've got thriving companies across Scotland that are able to sell their goods and services to the 60 million people in other parts of the UK without any barriers to trade. That means more jobs and opportunities for the 5 million people who live in Scotland.

"The research we are publishing today provides clear evidence that an international border would lead to a 'border effect' that would damage Scotland's economic prospects. This is real evidence that if you want to protect Scottish jobs you should vote no in September."