the SNP

Much has been achieved over the last 10 years and there is a lot to be proud of in our schools, not least because of the hard work and dedication of our teachers.

But, with pace and urgency, more must be done in collaboration with teachers, professional associations, parents and local authorities to ensure that we close the attainment gap in education once and for all.

Here are just seven ways we’re working to make our schools world-class.

Here’s why the Scottish budget means disabled people get the best deal anywhere in the UK.

The Scottish Government has set out its budget plans for the year ahead.

The Draft Budget includes new investment in public services, as well as new measures to support business, jobs and economic growth.

Here’s what our plans mean for remote and rural communities.

Here’s why the Scottish budget means businesses get the best deal anywhere in the UK.

Nicola Sturgeon has set out the Scottish Government’s proposals to protect Scotland’s interests following the EU referendum. Here’s what you need to know about the proposals.

From record health spending to free personal care, here’s why the Scottish budget means older people get the best deal anywhere in the UK.

Here’s why the Scottish budget means women get the best deal anywhere in the UK.

Scotland will unveil its #Brexit plan on Tuesday

Here’s why the Scottish budget means young people get the best deal anywhere in the UK.

The Scottish Government has set it outs budget plans for the year ahead. The Draft Budget includes new investment in public services, as well as new measures to support business, jobs and economic growth. Here’s what our plans mean for families.

Today I want to talk about our schools.

A major international report published last week found that Scotland’s school standards are not as good as we want them to be. I think our kids deserve for us to be upfront about the challenges we face and what we are doing to address them – and that’s exactly what the SNP government is doing.

Last week we saw a powerful debate in the UK Parliament over the United Nation’s International Day on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and the launch of my colleague Eilidh Whiteford’s Bill on ratifying the Istanbul Convention. These illustrate all of our desires to move towards a society where both men and women are able to live free from fear and abuse.

Today is United Nations Human Rights Day and this year the campaign is calling on us all to ‘Stand up for Rights’. At Westminster, in the Scottish Parliament and in government, we are committed to protecting and enhancing human rights. Here are just five ways the SNP has stood up for human rights this month.

The UK government has announced morally outrageous plans to close half of all Job Centres in Glasgow.

In her first speech to Parliament following her election as First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon said that education would be the defining mission of the new government.

Since then, the Scottish Government has been taking forward our ambitious plans to transform education in Scotland. Here’s how.

Today is Small Business Saturday, inspired by a campaign to encourage Christmas shoppers to buy from small businesses and support their local economy. In government, the SNP is working hard to support small businesses all year round.

Ahead of UN Disabilities Day on Saturday, Minister for Social Security Jeane Freeman has launched the Scottish Government’s Disability Delivery plan, setting out the actions we will take to reduce inequality experienced by disabled people.

Today First Minister Nicola Sturgeon addressed the Seanad, the upper house of the Irish parliament – the first serving head of government to ever do so.

It’s been over five months since the EU referendum and the Tories are still unable or unwilling to publish a plan for Brexit. The only detail the public now have on their strategy are some scribbled notes, from a Downing Street meeting with senior Tory ministers, that were never meant to be seen. Here’s what those scribbled notes mean.

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) have confirmed that data published last week on MP expenses was incorrect.

The incorrect figures, which under-reported the expenses of Scottish Labour and Lib Dem MPs in 2014/15, were used by Scottish Labour to launch an attack on SNP MPs.

The SNP want Scotland to be the best place in the world for all children and young people to grow up. When a child or young person can’t live at home, we want to make the process of finding a stable and loving family as quick and simple as possible. Here’s the actions we are taking to make that happen.

The Tories are claiming a £820 million Autumn Statement giveaway to Scotland. Here’s what’s really happened to Scotland’s budget under the Tories.

The Chancellor today set out his first Autumn Statement and laid bare the real cost of Brexit. Here’s what you need to know.

On Wednesday the Chancellor will deliver his Autumn Statement – the first UK budget statement since the EU referendum.Here are the SNP Scottish Government’s five key demands for the Chancellor.

Despite voting overwhelmingly to remain in the EU, Scotland now faces the prospect of a hard Brexit, which would see us taken out of the single market.  That’s not what Scotland voted for.     While it’s become apparent that the UK government has no plan, and are completely unable or unwilling to set out…

It has now been more than five months since the EU referendum and the UK government is still unable and unwilling to set out what Brexit will mean. However, in spite of the UK government’s secrecy on the issue, the potential impact of Brexit became clearer this week. Here’s what we’ve learned about Brexit in just five days.

2016 has been a truly eventful year – perhaps more eventful than any previous year in my lifetime – and it still has a few weeks left to run. On the political front, we had elections to the Scottish Parliament – and I am delighted that the SNP won a third term in office. However,…