The Liberal Democrats are the only party to have constistently made the case for home rule for Scotland, Scottish Secretary Michael Moore told local party members and supporters at the weekend.

Mr Moore was the guest speaker at the annual dinner of West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine constituency party. In a rousing speech he said that nobody else is making the case for home rule in a federal United Kingdom apart from the Liberal Democrats.

“Scotland can be independent,” he said, “but undoubtedly we are better off within the United Kingdom. The SNP have not done their thinking about independence – that’s how thin their case is. Too many questions remain unanswered.”

In contrast the Liberal Democrats have set out their vision with the publication of a report by the Home Rule and Community Rule Commission, chaired by Sir Menzies Campbell MP: scotlibdems.org.uk/homerule

Mr Moore also set out the some of the positive differences the Liberal Democrats are making in the UK government, including a triple lock on pensions, no identity cards, and raising the starting point for paying tax – which will benefit 160,000 Scots from April.

Earlier Michael Moore discussed his speech with North Kincardine councillor Ian Mollison, Stonehaven councillor Peter Bellarby and West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine MP Sir Robert Smith.