Independence would mean a ”dramatic improvement in the lives of working people,” according to a former Dundee Labour MP.
Speaking ahead of a Scottish Socialist Party public meeting at the Queens Hotel on Wednesday, John McAllion said: ”Scotland needs independence and the powers it brings to address the fundamental inequalities and injustices in our society.
”Our country was again branded ‘the sick man of Europe’ in a respect study published this week by the Centre for Population Health.
”Their report concluded mortality rates among working class men and women in Scotland have remained among the highest in Europe since the 1970s.
”On top of that we now have one in three households living in fuel poverty with millions unable to pay gas and electricity bills.
”Inequalities in Scotland between the rich and poor are widening and widening as the worst recession in 80 years bites deeper and deeper.”
Mr McAllion said independence would give Scotland the powers to address these ”scandals”.
”Independence means we will never see our wealth and revenues siphoned off to the UK Treasury, or see our public services privatised and public sector workers pauperised. That’s why I urge people to vote yes in the referendum in 2014.”
The former MP and MSP represented Dundee East.