the SNP

It’s looking increasingly likely that a referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union is going to take place sometime this year.

There’s been speculation recently that David Cameron may go for a vote as early as June, if he concludes his renegotiations with other European countries in February.

Today the SNP Scottish Government announced that it will invest £379 million in the north-east, as part of an overall funding package worth £504 million – 75 per cent of the total package. Despite talking up the Aberdeen City Deal for months now, the UK Government has allocated just £125 million. Again, David Cameron’s government has over-promised and under-delivered.

The SNP will leave no stone unturned in our attempts to block the Tory Trade Union Bill from being applied in Scotland, as the Scottish Parliament has, once again, expressed its opposition to the UK Government’s ill thought out and unnecessary Trade Union Bill.

Thursday 5th May is the date when all of Scotland decides who we want to lead our country for the next five years in Government and who we want as our First Minister.

Tomorrow marks 100 days of campaigning in which the Scottish National Party will make clear that we stand proud on our record, and clear on our commitment.

Today Aileen Campbell, Minister for Children and Young People, is launching Year of the Dad – joining the celebration of dads and the important role they play every day – in child development, family and community life. The year-long celebration is organised by Fathers Network Scotland and supported by the Scottish Government. Year of the…

In June last year Nicola Sturgeon appointed Naomi Eisenstadt as an Independent Advisor on Poverty to the Scottish Government.

We wanted Ms Eisenstadt to take a wide-ranging look at the progress the Scottish Government has made on tackling poverty – and, importantly, on what more we could do in the future.

Today the Scottish Parliament will consider the Private Housing Bill for the first time. Few things are as important as the home you live in. The housing market has changed drastically over a generation, and with increasing numbers of people in Scotland living in privately rented homes, it’s essential that we make sure tenants get…

Yesterday in Westminster, SNP MPs took part in the debate over the UK Government’s plans to abolish student maintenance grants in England and Wales. This policy stands in stark contrast to the SNP’s in Government in Scotland – we remain committed to providing bursaries and grants as part of the best support package for students in the UK.

We’re committed to promoting good employment practices and fair pay in Scotland. Over the weekend there were encouraging figures from the Resolution Foundation which showed that, over the last two decades, pay in Scotland has grown faster than any other nation or region in the UK.

As a party and in government we’re striving to ensure that no young girl grows up with the prospect of facing a glass ceiling that limits their ambitions.

Here’s some of action we’re taking to tackle gender inequality in the workplace and in politics.

Mental health is one of the biggest public health challenges we face in Scotland. With around one in three people affected by mental illness in any given year, the SNP Scottish Government has made improving mental health services a priority.

In tough financial times, the SNP in government has sought to provide relief to households by putting in place a freeze on increases in council tax. Here’s what you need to know about the council tax freeze and how it works:

Today I’m pleased to have announced that the Scottish Government is taking a major step forward in improving transparency of land ownership in Scotland.

As a lifelong fan of Scottish football I have witnessed first-hand the game’s many ups and downs.

It’s not so long ago that a place at the World Cup finals was almost taken for granted, and our clubs have often done well on the European stage.

Today I led a debate in the Scottish Parliament on delivering a world class education system.

The SNP has made improving our education system a key priority in government. Our approach so far has seen record Higher and Advanced Higher pass rates, with more of our young people going from school into work, training or additional education than at any time on record.

With the Scotland Bill set to devolve some limited tax powers to the Scottish Parliament, a new system of allocating money to the Scotland through the Barnett Formula needs to be agreed. The fiscal framework is what will become that new structure, and so getting it is right is vitally important.

Seeing first hand the damage done by the floods and severe weather in areas across Scotland in the last few weeks has been heartbreaking. After the wettest December on record, flooding has caused devastation and misery for many people. However, once again, Scotland’s communities have rallied together and shown real strength.

This year the people of Scotland will be asked to make significant decisions about the future of our country.

In May voters will determine the make-up of the Scottish Parliament and the next Scottish Government.

2016 could also bring Scots to the polling booths for a second time to join the rest of the UK in deciding whether the UK should remain a member of the European Union.

I initially became aware of this issue through constituents bringing it to my attention. Many women came forward to tell me that they had not had any notification of changes to their state pension age, and those who had received any information had found it conflicting and constantly changing.

Today sees the SNP’s first national Day of Action of the Scottish Parliament election campaign – as party members across the country kick off the year by taking our positive message directly to people in their communities.

We approach this year’s election in buoyant mood and excited about the opportunity to lead a great, national debate about how we keep Scotland moving forward.

The Scottish Government is encouraging people to continue checking local weather forecasts and travel information as parts of the country continue to be badly affected by recent flooding and bad weather.

One year ago this week the SNP introduced free school meals for all pupils in Primary 1 to 3.

Nicola Sturgeon has set out Scotland’s new National Improvement Framework alongside her aspiration for Scotland’s education system to be world leading.

Later this month, the SNP will be hosting our first ever conference specifically for disabled members.

Organised by disabled members, it’s an opportunity to nurture skills and encourage debate in a way that feels comfortable and in a space that empowers us.

As Parliament meets for the first time in 2016, Nicola Sturgeon has led a debate reviewing the progress made by the SNP in Government since 2007, and looking ahead to the future.

This year, 2016, will be another big and important year for Scotland. We’ll have the fifth Scottish parliament election – the next point of decision for a country still enjoying a democratic renaissance after 300 long years without a parliament of our own. On May 5, you will decide what party you want to lead…

As we enter election year, the SNP has a positive message of achievement in government and ambition for Scotland’s future.

Since coming to office in 2007 we have delivered real progress – despite unprecedented Tory cuts to our budget and regressive policies from Westminster threatening to hold Scotland back. In our time in office, the SNP has been squarely focused on delivering on the issues that matter to the people of Scotland.

2015 has absolutely flown in and it’s hard to believe that I’m sitting down to write my final column of the year, looking back on a very busy and eventful 12 months.