Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will turn his guns on his Conservative coalition partners today during a speech in Dundee.
Speaking at the Scottish Liberal Democrat spring conference, Mr Clegg will admit joining forces with David Cameron’s party in Westminster “has been particularly controversial in Scotland” because of the legacy of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
He will say: “People in Scotland know that the Conservatives cannot be trusted to deliver a fairer society. Not on their own anyway. With only one MP in Scotland, who honestly thinks that the Conservatives on their own will stand up for you?
“Just last weekend Theresa May gave a speech arguing that Britain could pull out of the European Convention on Human Rights. That we could abandon the rights of British citizens just to satisfy the right of the Conservative Party.
“She wants this option to remain ‘on the table’. No chance. As I said last weekend, it won’t be on the cabinet table as long as I’m sitting round it.
“That’s why having Liberal Democrats in Government, anchoring it in the centre ground and delivering for Scotland, is so important.”
The speech will focus on the idea of “building a stronger economy in a fairer society” that lets people “get on in life”.
Mr Clegg will say Labour cannot be trusted with the economy and will accuse them of leaving Britain with “nothing” after their time in office.
He will also claim Labour has made no progress with the electorate, citing the recent Eastleigh by-election as proof.
“And now they oppose every single saving the coalition has been forced to make with not a single suggestion for how to raise money instead,” he will add.
The speech will touch on independence, saying the UK offers more economic security than an independent Scotland and pointing to a shared culture, history and identity across the isles.
Mr Clegg will say: “And it turns out that the SNP haven’t been forthcoming in telling the public the true consequences of independence.
“In public they say the economy will be strong and society will be fairer. In private, they know the oil won’t last forever and they don’t know how they’ll pay for public services, defence and your pension. You deserve better than that.”
See full conference coverage in Saturday’s Courier.