the SNP

This summer I’ve had the privilege of meeting island communities across Scotland. Having met communities in Na h-Eileanan Siar, Orkney, Shetland and islands in the Inner Hebrides too, I’ve seen and heard of the opportunities and challenges of island life.

The SNP has placed the needs and aspirations of our islands communities at the very centre of our empowerment agenda. But we want to go even further.

It has been 100 days since Nicola Sturgeon was sworn in as First Minister following her re-election.

From launching Scotland’s labour market strategy to taking action to secure Scotland’s continued place in Europe, here’s what your re-elected SNP government has done in the last 100 days.

Today the Scottish Government published Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland – or ‘GERS’ for short – for the year 2015-16. GERS is produced annually and provides estimates of total public spending in Scotland, as well as tax receipts for the previous five years.

This weekend I have been in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where I visited the site of the 1995 genocide at Srebrenica.

It was a privilege to meet with survivors and the bereaved, and learn first-hand how they have fought to preserve the memory of their loved ones.

Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every individual.

In the UK, the Human Rights Act guarantees we are all protected by rights and freedoms set out in the European Convention of Human Rights (ECHR) and ensures that public bodies do not infringe them.

We believe that is a fundamentally good thing and will oppose Tory plans to scrap the Act.

Here’s what you need to know about the Human Right Act.

The UK government has announced limited measures to plug the gap in EU funding left in the wake of Brexit.

The Brexit campaign’s claims about the £350 million the UK would claw back from the EU each week to spend on the NHS have been exposed for the lies they were – with the Treasury announcement falling short of the required amount to protect even existing funding.

Our NHS is our most cherished institution and for as long as the SNP is in government we will work to protect and improve it.
There is no doubt that in doing so we will face big challenges over the next few years. People are living longer and our NHS is treating more patients than ever before.
That’s why we’ve committed to an ambitious plan to improve our health service and increase health resource investment by at least £500 million more than inflation over the next five years. That’s almost £2 billion of increased investment.

Nicola Sturgeon has today announced a package of measures to stimulate Scotland’s economy following the result of the EU referendum.

Action includes bringing forward government spending on infrastructure and providing fresh support for businesses.

In the midst of all the political upheaval emanating from Westminster, which is understandably dominating the headlines, it’s important to remember that – in Scotland at least – the business of government goes on.

Nicola Sturgeon has said that she’ll be exploring all available options to protect Scotland’s place in Europe. Democracy, economic prosperity, social protection, solidarity and influence – these are the vital interests that the Scottish Government will seek to safeguard by keeping Scotland in Europe.

This week is World Breastfeeding Week – an important initiative to help raise awareness of the benefits that breastfeeding can bring to people all over the planet.

Promoting breastfeeding is about giving mums the confidence to do what should be viewed as the most natural thing in the world, and that’s nurture their child to give them the healthiest start in life.

Today is World Day against Trafficking in Persons, a day to raise awareness of the situation facing victims of human trafficking, the illegal trade of human beings for exploitation, and for the promotion and protection of their rights. Human trafficking knows no borders, making it more difficult for authorities to detect the crime and catch…

Today the UK Supreme Court ruled on a failed bid to scrap the Named person service.

Here’s what you need to know:

Today Nicola Sturgeon delivered a speech setting out the five key Scottish interests that must be protected after Scotland voted overwhelming in favour of remaining in the EU.

Here’s a quick summary of the five key interests.

We are now exactly one month on from the EU referendum. It seems in some ways no time at all – and, in others, a lifetime. I’m sure many of you feel the same way.
Today, I will reflect on the result – on how it felt and what some of the lessons might be. I’ll try to give you an insight into my own feelings and how my thinking developed in the early hours of 24 June.

From the renewal of Trident to the prospect to being taken out the EU against our will – Scotland’s democratic deficit has never been clearer.

Here are just five times that Scotland’s democratic decisions have been ignored by Westminster.

The SNP Scottish Government is working tirelessly to deliver what Scotland voted for – to stay in the EU. Since the EU referendum there has been strong support for this position from across Europe. From the Vice-Chancellor of Germany to the Irish Taoiseach, here’s what senior politicians have said about Scotland’s place in Europe.

Here’s just some of what your SNP Scottish Government has done this week.

Theresa May is set to be the next UK Prime Minister after Andrea Leadsom dropped out of the Tory party leadership contest.

As Home Secretary she led the charge on scrapping the Human Rights Act and was responsible for the xenophobic ‘Go Home’ vans. And, during the Tory leadership contest she has refused to rule out mass-deportation of EU citizens living in the UK, while prioritising Trident renewal – at a whopping cost of £205 billion.

Last Tuesday I hosted a gathering of consular officials from European Union countries at Bute House. The purpose of the meeting, and my message to those diplomats was clear: their citizens are very welcome here in Scotland, and I am determined that they will remain free to live and work here, contributing to our national life.

The actions of Tony Blair, as Prime Minister, took the UK to war in Iraq, which led to the death of 179 UK armed forces personnel, almost 200,000 Iraqi civilians, and the present instability in the Middle East.

The publication of the Report of the Iraq Inquiry by Sir John Chilcot today is welcome but long overdue.

Since the EU referendum, the SNP has taken steps to reassure people from other European countries living here that they continue to be welcome in Scotland. Here’s how.

Tory leadership candidates: whoever wins, Scotland loses. There are now just two candidates to be leader of the Tories and the next Prime Minister. Here’s what they stand for.

After being told by the Tory Westminster government and No campaign in 2014 that the way to protect Scotland’s place in Europe was to vote No, we now find ourselves potentially being dragged out of the EU against our will – and unfortunately for people in Scotland, this is only the most obvious of the…

Dear SNP,

I am a previous ‘no’ voter, but, as everyone else I spoke to today in the light of the EU referendum results, I would whole-heartedly offer my YES vote if another Scottish Independence referendum was to be held.

Today Nicola Sturgeon is taking part in a series of high-level meetings in Brussels to secure Scotland’s place in Europe.

Among others, Nicola is meeting EU Commission President Juncker, EU Parliament President, Martin Schulz and Guy Verhofstadt, who is one of the Brexit negotiators.

Today the Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, set out Scotland’s delivery plan for raising attainment in our schools. The plan sets out how we will ensure that every child, no matter their background, has the same opportunities and an equal chance to succeed.

Here’s what you need to know.