The Scottish Secretary is due to address party members at the Labour conference in Liverpool – the first under the tenure of Andy Burnham.

Mr Alexander will use his speech to contrast the Prime Minister with John Swinney, accusing the First Minister of centralising power in Edinburgh, while urging both governments to “work together”.

The Scottish Secretary accused the First Minister of centralising power (Jane Barlow/PA)

PA Wire

“We are the party that finally delivered Keir Hardie’s vision of Scottish home rule,” he is expected to say.

“Now in Andy Burnham we have a leader – a Prime Minister – with just as bold a vision of devolution.

“Andy’s not just an advocate for devolution. He has been a practitioner of it. He has lived it. And in Manchester Andy Burnham delivered on bus regulation, on tackling homelessness and on delivering growth.

“In Scotland, sadly, it’s a different story. The Scottish Government hoards power at the centre with disastrous results.

“Too many of our public services are gripped by crisis. Too many of our young people are denied the opportunities they deserve. And many of our elderly are denied the peace of mind in their retirement that they deserve.

“Our economy under the SNP is failing to deliver prosperity in every region of Scotland, let alone in every postcode.

Andy Burnham (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

PA Wire

“It’s not John Swinney’s Scotland. It’s not my Scotland. It’s our Scotland. And we must work together for our nation to fulfil its huge potential.”

SNP MSP Jack Middleton urged the Scottish Secretary to push for an “agreed process” for another independence referendum.

“Douglas Alexander talks about home rule and this week the British Prime Minister once again said Scotland has the right to decide,” Mr Middleton said.

“A simple democratic concept that Holyrood – with the support of Scottish Labour – has endorsed too.

“Douglas Alexander should focus on making those very reasonable steps toward an agreed process rather than spending his days defending a Westminster system that is coming to an end.

“The SNP is rewiring the state to address the priorities of the people of Scotland, but it is through the fresh start with independence that we can build a wealthier Scotland back home in the EU.”