SCOTTISH First Minister Alex Salmond and his Labour counterpart Wendy Alexander both made a bid for the hearts and minds of the Scottish trade union movement at congress on Tuesday.
Mr Salmond said that his new SNP government had decided to find a new and more cost-effective way to fund public capital expenditure than the discredited Private Finance Initiative.
He defended the government's proposed Scottish Futures Trust, which has been criticised by several unions, notably by UNISON.
Then, to applause, Mr Salmond announced that the planned £842 million Southern General hospital in Glasgow would not only be the biggest-ever single NHS project, but that it would be completely funded by public finance.
Mr Salmond won his largest round of applause when he said that the contribution that he would most like to see Scotland make would be to "international peacekeeping rather than illegal invasions."
Speaking later, Ms Alexander reiterated her claim to be pursuing "socialist" policies.
She promised that unions would be heard at the heart of the Calman Commission, which she has initiated to counter the SNP National Conversation.
"The SNP economic policy rests on the same myths as Tories, that Scotland is a low-growth economy and that cutting business tax is the answer," Ms Alexander stated.
"I tell you, cutting business taxes is not the answer."
Ms Alexander also claimed that the Scottish government was failing to provide sufficient places for young people to take up modern apprenticeships.
"Our policy is now to provide subsidies to small employers to take on apprentices. Labour would guarantee every young person who wants it the right to a modern apprenticeship," she said.
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