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Sadiq Khan today ignites the independence debate by comparing Scottish nationalism to racism.

Writing in the Record, the Labour Mayor of London insists there is no real difference between voting for a separate Scotland and “trying to divide us on the basis of background, race or religion”.

Khan also compares Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP to politicians like Donald Trump who seek to fuel division.

His intervention is sure to infuriate the First Minister, who insists her civic form of nationalism is in stark contrast to the forces that drove support for Brexit in England and Trump in the US.

Khan, the most powerful elected Labour politician in Britain, is due to arrive in Perth today to address the Scottish Labour conference. He was widely seen as the victim of a racist campaign during the mayoral election last year.

His Tory opponent Zac Goldsmith and then PM David Cameron were accused of suggesting London wasn’t safe in

the hands of a Muslim.

(Image: Getty)

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Khan is expected to use his keynote speech in Perth today to set out his vision of how Brexit could lead to a more federal UK.

A SNP spokesman said: “It is spectacularly ill-judged to compare Scottish independence supporters to Trump or Brexiteers, and an insult to many Labour voters.

“It is only the SNP who are providing principled and strong opposition to the Tories’ hard Brexit obsession, while Labour run up the white flag and let themselves be rolled over by the Brexiteers and their right-wing agenda.”

(Image: Nick Ansell/PA Wire)

Here's Khan's speech in full:

London and Scotland have always had a very special relationship.

We are twin beacons of progressive values and hope within the United Kingdom. We both celebrate our diversity and take pride in our tolerance. We strive for equality and to increase opportunities.

And we fight tooth and nail for fairness and inclusion.

But despite our shared values, there are some in Scotland who are determined to define London as Scotland’s enemy – to turn us against each other.

They try to paint my city as the home of ‘the elite’ – as a hotbed of conservatism. Well I’m in Perth today to send a clear message to all Scots that nothing could be further from the truth.

Because that is not my London and that is not Labour’s London – the London that I know and love.

We’re living through extraordinary times and the world is becoming an increasingly turbulent and divided place.

We’ve seen Brexit, president Trump elected in the United States and the rise of right-wing populist

and narrow nationalist parties around the world.

(Image: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

It’s up to us – whether in Scotland or in London – to fight this trend.

The last thing we need now is to pit different parts of our country or sections of our society against each other – or to further fuel division or seek separation.

There’s no difference between those who try to divide us on the basis of whether we’re English or Scottish and those who try to divide us on the basis of our background, race or religion.

The antidote to Brexit and the rise of right-wing populist parties is not to run away, break away or push our neighbours away. It’s to lead in a different direction – the right direction.

That is the message I’m taking to the Scottish Labour Party conference today – that now is the time to build unity, create a more United Kingdom and ensure everyone has the opportunities they need to succeed.

We will only succeed in turning back the tide if we do it together. Together within our communities and together across borders – working for the collective good.

If we are to continue to thrive, Scotland and London need to stay true to our shared progressive values.

That means creating a more open and inclusive economy, working in partnership with other countries and cities and continuing to celebrate our diversity – because we know that it’s a strength, not a weakness.

That is the approach that Labour are taking in power in London. And that is the approach that only Labour and Kezia Dugdale can deliver for Scotland.