EARLIER this month, I had the pleasure of welcoming Labour Leader, Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, to Port Glasgow’s Boglestone Community Centre.

Ed Miliband, who was joined by Scottish Labour Leader Johann Lamont MSP, Shadow Scottish Secretary Margaret Curran MP and Scottish Labour Deputy Anas Sarwar MP, made a compelling argument in favour of Scotland’s future as part of the UK.

Social justice, solidarity and building a better society for all is at Labour’s heart and it is because of these Labour principles that we are passionately and positively arguing for a ‘No’ vote in September’s referendum on Scottish independence. However, we are not arguing for a No vote to secure the status quo. We are urging Scots to reject independence and join us as part of the biggest progressive change for a generation.

Labour has already announced a series of One Nation reforms to help create a new era of success for Britain in which everyone has the chance to make — and share in — future prosperity.

Our reforms will tackle deep-rooted problems which began before the recession and will not be solved simply by a belated return to growth.

We will create a skilled workforce with gold standard vocational education, a welfare state that encourages young people to sign up for training not sign on for benefits, and a leading role for business in deciding how funding for skills is spent.

We will develop an industrial policy which creates the conditions for good, private-sector jobs in every region of the country with secure innovation and science budgets and local businesses at the heart of key decisions on economic development.

The next Labour government will also increase the national minimum wage, freeze energy prices and reform Europe to ensure Britain remains an outward-looking and open economy.  I believe, when presented with the facts and the positive reasons for the strength of the Union, Scots will not vote to turn their back on Britain. Labour’s message is simple: a vote of ‘No thanks’ is a vote in favour of a strong Scotland, with a strengthened Scottish Parliament in the UK.

Now is the chance to join Labour as we change Britain for the better.