Jeremy Corbyn has called on Scottish Labour activists to “unleash the energy” of the referendum campaign in the run-up to the Holyrood elections.
In front of a packed Perth Concert Hall, Mr Corbyn said the “stakes are high” for the party at May’s vote.
The Islington North MP, who argued that the best thing for the UK was Keir Hardie’s “sunshine of socialism”, also told members that Scottish Labour would have more autonomy under his leadership.
He said: “In the referendum last year, 85% of people turned out to vote because the stakes were high, and because they knew that regardless of how people voted it would have a dramatic effect on the future of your nation.
“I believe that all politics today – not just constitutional politics – is that important.
“The stakes are high. When we vote for a government – as we are seeing with these Tories – their decisions have an impact on the lives and life chances of an entire generation.
“That’s true for Scotland and it’s true for Britain.
“So let’s take the best of the energy the referendum campaign unleashed, and let’s fuse that with Hardie’s hopeful vision.”
Scottish Labour has faced criticism for not being independent from Westminster after former leader Joanne Lamont described it as being like “a branch office”.
Mr Corbyn, however, argued that under his leadership the party would enjoy greater autonomy.
Earlier this week he signed a deal with Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale on how the party would be run north of the border.
He said: “I am proud that we are a UK-wide democratic socialist party.
“I believe in the words that are written on all our membership cards – that we achieve more together than we can alone.
“But we have to recognise that the UK has changed, and our party hasn’t always kept up.
“When the Scotland Bill goes through the House of Commons, the UK will become one of the most devolved nations in the world.
“The Labour Party needs to change to respond to that, and respond to the way we now do politics.
“That is why it is right that decisions about Scottish Labour will be taken by the members and activists of the Scottish Labour Party.”