Scottish Independence: Labour Promises Scots More Power if Union Break Rejected

The Labour party will promise Scots significantly more power and the ability to change and create new policies, if they vote against independence in the referendum in two weeks' time.

According to extracts from his speech, Labour leader Ed Miliband will say that while Scots crave change, independence is not the answer.

"With that election in just eight months' time the change Scotland needs is on its way," Miliband will say.

"Electing a Labour government is the way to change Scotland. The choice for social justice is 'No' not 'Yes'."

Scottish people will vote in an independence referendum on 18 September, 2014, and will be asked the straight "yes/no" question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

Labour relies heavily on Scottish support and currently has 40 of Scotland's 59 parliamentary seats.

However, Miliband will say that Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservative party, which holds only one of Scotland's parliamentary seats, will lose the next election and therefore Labour will be perfectly poised to deliver more powers to Scotland's devolved government.

"I want to be very clear about the change I offer you in just eight months as Prime Minister: It is a changed Labour Party that is ready to change Britain," Miliband will say.

What Do the Polls Say?

Support for Scottish independence has gathered significant strength over the last month, according to a poll which showed that the Yes vote surged in August.

The pro-independence vote rose to 47%, only six points behind those opposed to breaking the 307-year union with England.

Scottish independence poses a significant risk for Labour as they need their vast amount of support in the country to win the UK general election in 2015.

Meanwhile, a number of polls have given Labour a three percentage-point lead over Conservatives.