My Articles
Leaked Brexit memo – what you need to know
A leaked memo from earlier this month, has revealed the UK government still have no plan for Brexit – five months on from the referendum. Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU but now faces the prospect of being dragged out by a UK government beset by chaos and confusion. That’s not what Scotland…
by Time to end austerity
Nicola Sturgeon today gave a speech on Brexit and the economy at the Sheffield Political Economy Research Institute in the University of Sheffield. Below is the full text – check against delivery.
by I’m with her
I fervently hope that it will be Hillary Clinton who is sworn in as 45th President of the United States in January and who returns to the White House, this time not as First Lady but as America’s first female leader.
by The UK government must respect devolved nations on Brexit
The decision of the High Court to rule that Parliament must be consulted before triggering Article 50 may well go down as a pivotal moment in the journey the UK has embarked upon in the wake of the EU referendum.
by Scottish ‘Turing Law’ an important step forward for LGBTI equality
Since forming the Scottish Government in 2007, the SNP have led the way in making Scotland one of the most LGBTI-friendly nations across the globe. Now the Scottish Government’s announcement that it will bring forward legislation to pardon all gay and bisexual men who were convicted for same-sex sexual activity under past homophobic laws that are no longer on the statute book, is another historic action taken by the SNP government to forward LGBTI equality in Scotland.
by Tory rape clause proposal must be consigned to dustbin of history
The on-going issues surrounding the chaos caused by Brexit are quite rightly dominating the headlines, but one very important announcement from the UK Government last week deserves further attention. That’s the news that their so-called rape clause proposal will be put out to consultation.
by 10 ways that Scotland is a leader on fair pay
While there’s still much to do, the SNP in government has made the promotion of the real Living Wage central to our efforts on fair work, ensuring that work pays and individuals are valued.
by Poverty is not inevitable – we will do all we can to eradicate it
It is unacceptable in a country as prosperous as Scotland that people are still living in poverty and I want to do all that I can to create a fairer, more equal Scotland for everyone. Poverty is not inevitable. And this government is committed to do all we can to eradicate it.
by Scotland must be a full and equal partner in UK negotiations on Europe
The political and economic landscape in the wake of June’s Brexit vote is one that could scarcely have been imagined just a few short months ago. There is no doubt that the responsibility for the considerable uncertainty we now face lies with those who advocated a referendum, but who spent next to no time planning…
by Draft Independence Referendum Bill: here’s what it means
Today the Scottish Government has published a consultation on a draft Independence Referendum Bill.
If there is an independence referendum, it will not be because the result of the 2014 referendum has not been respected – it will be because the promises made to Scotland have not been kept.
Here’s what you need to know.
by Except for voters in Scotland
In 2014, the Tories told Scotland that we are an equal partner in the UK. On her first visit to Scotland as Prime Minister, Theresa May said that she was “willing to listen to options” on Scotland and that the Scottish Government would be “fully engaged” in Brexit discussions. Since then the Prime Minister’s promises…
by Laying the foundations for an inclusive, tolerant, outward-looking society
I’m just home from the SNP’s annual conference. We were delighted to welcome more than 3000 delegates to Glasgow’s SECC – giving a welcome boost to the city’s economy.
by Nicola Sturgeon’s #SNP16 speech: the key points
Today Nicola Sturgeon delivered her closing speech at SNP National Conference, and set out our vision for Scotland: a welcoming, progressive, open, outward-looking and inclusive nation. The speech was packed with new announcements – from increased childcare flexibility to new measures to boost our economy. Here’s what you need to know. We will implement…
by Nicola Sturgeon’s address to #SNP16
Read the address given by SNP Leader and First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon to SNP conference 2016.
by Stronger for Scotland: towards a decade of delivery
In government, the SNP has a strong record of delivery. Our list of achievements is long and wide-ranging – and all delivered at a time of cuts to Scotland’s budget by Westminster Tories.
by Angus Robertson’s address to #SNP16
It is a huge honour to be able to report on the work of the SNP at Westminster – the strong, united and effective opposition to the Tories in the House of Commons.
by Depute Leadership contest result
Today Angus Robertson was elected as the SNP Depute Leader. The full result of the contest was: Chris McEleny: 1,182 (3.38%)Angus Robertson: 18,736 (52.5%)Tommy Sheppard: 8,936 (25.53%)Alyn Smith: 6,510 (18.6%) 35,004 votes cast*33.9% turnout *The total number of eligible voters for the Depute Leader contest was approximately 103,000 members (of total membership of 116,000 at…
by What you need to know: Nicola Sturgeon’s opening speech at #SNP16
Nicola Sturgeon opened SNP conference, and set out new action we’ll take to protect Scotland’s interests from an increasingly right-wing UK government. It’s become clear that the right wing of the Tory party is seeking to hijack the referendum result to make sure Brexit means Tory Brexit. Every part of Scotland voted to remain, with…
by Nicola Sturgeon opening address to #SNP16
Below is the opening address given by Nicola Sturgeon to SNP Conference 2016. Check against delivery. Conference. Welcome to the Dear Green Place. Welcome to the great city of Glasgow. A city that said Yes in 2014. A city where every citizen is now represented in the Scottish Parliament by an SNP constituency MSP. Let…
by #SNP16 in numbers
Tomorrow SNP conference kicks off at the SECC in Glasgow – the biggest party conference in the UK. And, unlike other parties, we can always look forward to thriving, inclusive and lively debate. Here’s #SNP16 in numbers.
by Scrap the rape clause
No woman should have to prove she was raped to be able to claim child tax credits. I have said it before and will continue to say it, because it is a travesty that in 2016 a women should be faced with this.
by Scotland has the highest quality of life of any UK nation
The European Social Progress Index, published today, found that people in Scotland hold positive and tolerant attitudes on diversity, benefit from better environmental quality and are able to exercise more personal freedoms than people elsewhere in the UK. Here’s what you need to know.
by Innovation nation: an interview with Keith Brown
The second edition of SNP Insight, our magazine for Scotland’s businesses, is out now. You can read the Autumn 2016 edition in full here. Below is an interview, featured in the magazine, with the Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, Keith Brown MSP, on how he wants to grow the Scottish economy…
by Our commitment to transforming mental health services
Today is World Mental Health Day, an opportunity to raise awareness of mental health issues, challenge stigma and recommit ourselves to improving mental health services for all.
by In case you missed it: good news for the environment
In government the SNP has made substantial progress in making Scotland cleaner and greener. This week that work continu
by The Tory conference has shown us who the divisive, nasty nationalists are
Like most people, I’ve read some of the headlines coming from the Tory conference over the last few days with a mixture of disbelief and horror.
by Our plan to build a fairer Scotland: what you need to know
Social justice was at the heart of the 2014 independence referendum debate. To harness this enthusiasm for change, the SNP in government has led a conversation on how we can use the powers of the Scottish Parliament – and the limited new powers that are on their way – to tackle poverty and create genuine…
by What we’ve learnt from Tory conference
The Tory conference has ended. Here are six things we’ve learnt about the repellant reality of Tory policy. 1. The Tories have signalled they are poised to target foreign workers in the most disgraceful display of reactionary right-wing politics in living memory. 2. Disgracefully, the UK Trade Secretary, Liam Fox, described EU nationals living…
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