Sturgeon On Campaign Trail

Nationalist MPs will use their influence to put heart into the Westminster economic policy, according to the First Minister.

Earlier this week, Nicola Sturgeon set out a plan to tackle the deficit which she said would put 'fairness' at the centre of economic growth.

Her plan was attacked by the Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael, he accused her of trying to turn good news into bad by suggesting the UK economy was performing below par.

The First Minister is on the campaign trail in Glasgow today.

She claims her MPs could hold the balance of power at Westminster from May and says they'd argue for a more moderate and balanced approach to deficit reduction, by focussing on inequality and social justice.

"A strong team of SNP MPs can put heart back into Westminster economic policy. Holding the balance of power, we can use our strength to ensure that women, disabled and hard-working people, those currently carrying the highest burden – no longer pay the price of austerity.

"The heartless cuts implemented by the Tories, with the support of the Lib Dems – have caused untold misery to families across Scotland. Meanwhile, Labour's lurch to the right in recent years has appalled and alienated many Scots, and that will only have been cemented over recent weeks in which we saw Labour voting with the Tories for £30 billion more austerity and £100 billon on Trident renewal.

"Left to their own devices, Labour have made crystal clear they will continue on with Tory cuts that are hitting vulnerable people hardest and seeing in-work poverty rocket. The SNP has one role at Westminster, and that is to stand up for Scotland. That means we will never support or prop up the Tories in office – but at the same time we are not going to allow any Labour government to continue implementing Tory economic policies.

"The SNP has already shown that with the powers the Scottish Government does have, we can implement economic policies that don't lose focus on fairness. For example, the Living Wage is paid to all employees covered by the Scottish Government's pay policy, and this makes a real difference to the lowest paid workers, with women in particular seeing the benefits.

"And our Fair Work Convention will work with business and trade unions look at ways to ensure our economy continues to prosper and the benefits are felt by all.

"With extensive powers over employment and welfare, the Scottish Government could do even more to promote prosperity, and at Westminster a strong group of SNP MPs will make the case for more powers at every opportunity.

"A strong team of SNP MPs can also be a progressive force for change as the UK as a whole. By persuading a Labour government to take a more moderate approach to tackling the deficit, we can avoid the misery of further austerity."