SCOTTISH LABOUR leader Johann Lamont yesterday warned that independence would bring a new wave of austerity for families in Scotland, while SNP Finance Secretary John Swinney claimed it could could transform the economy and move the country towards full employment.

Speaking in Glasgow, Johann Lamont said Scotland would face spending cuts or tax rises to maintain public services as a consequence of a Yes vote in next month’s referendum.

“The cuts will hit families and the least well-off the hardest,” she said.

Ms Lamont echoed former Labour leader Neil Kinnock’s blast against Thatcherism in 1992: “I warn you not to be ordinary. I warn you not to be young. I warn you not to fall ill. I warn you not to get old.”

“Remember in Alex Salmond we have a man who said that Scotland didn’t mind Margaret Thatcher’s economics.

“I think I can speak for the people of Scotland when I say, no Alex, we did mind. In fact, Scotland detested Margaret Thatcher’s economics and we won’t be going down that road again.”

Meanwhile John Swinney aims to unveil a 10-point plan for the economy and employment in an independent Scotland later this week. Speaking ahead of its publication, he said: “The one-size-fits-all economic policies of successive Westminster governments have failed and are continuing to fail the people of Scotland.

“We perform well at the moment but we should be doing so much better.”

* BBC and Sky are in discussion with both Yes and No campaigns for further televised debates following the ratings-busting Scottish TV head-to-head between First Minister Alex Salmond and Better Together leader Alistair Darling last week.

A Survation poll after the debate found that 53 per cent believed Mr Darling won the contest, while 28 per cent backed Alex Salmond as the winner and 19 per cent did not know.

The majority of people — 65 per cent — said the TV clash had not changed the way they intend to vote, while 22 per cent said they were more likely to vote No and 13 per cent were more likely to vote Yes.

The poll found that 50 per cent want Scotland to stay in the UK, while 37 per cent backed a Yes vote and the remaining 13 per cent said they did not know.