Sir Keir Starmer has accused the SNP and the Conservatives of being “joined at the hip” in aiming to turn every election into the “same referendum”.
The Labour leader hit out at the parties as he suggested that neither had done enough to secure jobs and industries of the future during their time in power at Holyrood and Westminster.
He is expected to make the remarks in a speech to Scottish Labour conference on Saturday in Glasgow.
“Labour in power is always power exercised in partnership with the people,” Starmer is expected to say.
“But because this government is so distracted it has no plan for household finances and no economic planning at all.
“And I ask you, what do these Tories and the SNP have in common? Well, beyond being joined at the hip in their desire to see every election turned into the same referendum again, and again.
“They have no industrial strategy that is good enough to meet the challenge of our age. Neither have the credible policies we need to create and sustain decent jobs.
“Decades in power between them and neither of these governments have done enough to secure the jobs and industries of the future on our shores.
“The so-called party of British business is barely able to talk to business.”
Starmer insisted that there is no challenge ahead that his party “cannot rise to”.
And he outlined his aim to be a government “in partnership” with business.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar on Friday told the conference that the party will be “unashamedly pro-business”.
“Whilst the party of North Sea nationalism is now selling Scotland’s offshore wind to every foreign energy interest imaginable,” Starmer will say.
“So, we also have a new opportunity now. To have a Labour government that will be in partnership with business to create work.
“Instead of a Tory government that treats British business with disdain, disinterest and disrespect. Because Labour is the party of work, we always have been.
“There is no challenge ahead of us, whether its automation or climate change, that we cannot rise to.”
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