Mr Miliband will allow Scotland to set a more generous benefits system than the rest of the UK if he becomes Prime Minister . Labour leader Ed Miliband will allow Scotland to set a more generous benefits system than the rest of the UK if he becomes Prime Minister. Mr Miliband will hand Scottish MPs the unprecedented power to set a higher state pension and more generous dole and disability payments in a desperate attempt to reverse the exodus of his voters to the SNP. He will unveil the radical proposals in his manifesto, due to be published tomorrow, as he attempts to fight back in Scotland – a key General Election battleground. But the move will lead to fears that it could again put the future of the Union at risk by setting Scotland apart from the rest of the UK. Under Mr Miliband’s plan, the Scottish Parliament will be given the power to ‘top up’ payments which are reserved to Westminster, including jobseeker’s allowance, disability living allowance or even the state pension. Critics fear that it could lead to the SNP and Labour veering increasingly to the Left by promising a more generous benefits system. It is also sure to prove controversial in other parts of the UK, and could stoke resentment about Scots getting a better deal. There are already concerns about Scots receiving state handouts such as free prescriptions and free tuition fees, which are not available in England and Wales. Ahead of tomorrow’s manifesto launch, Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy said: ‘We will go much further than what is on offer by allowing Scotland’s cities and communities more influence and control over the welfare state.’ Under the proposals, Labour will give members of the Scottish Parliament the power to make top-up payments to all benefit claimants. Crucially, the money would need to be found from elsewhere within the Scottish Parliament’s budget – or raised through increased taxation. That increases the prospect that other taxpayers could see their bills soar in order to fund benefit giveaways. Scottish Conservative MSP Alex Johnstone said: ‘This is an example of Labour desperately foraging around for policies it thinks people in Scotland want to hear. ‘They’re forgetting people voted “No” [in the independence referendum], and don’t need Labour patronising them on the constitution.’ Miliband and Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy appear at a General Election campaign press conference in Edinburgh .
Ed Miliband will allow Scotland to set a more generous benefits system .
The move is a desperate attempt to reverse the exodus of voters to SNP .
He will unveil the proposals in his manifesto, due to be published tomorrow .