The SNP will set out an exciting vision for Scotland’s future

The general election is over, and the Tories are out of government – thank goodness.

However it was undeniably a tough election result for the SNP.

It was a result that we must listen to. We need to renew and redemonstrate our commitment to creating a better Scotland.

Right now, in the midst of a cost of living crisis, people across Scotland need us to concentrate on improving their lives and investing in a better future for our country. For my part, and the part of my government, that means honing in on delivering for people across Scotland – using the limited powers of devolution and, where possible, working constructively with Keir Starmer’s Labour government.

I’ve made no secret about the fact that it has been near impossible to have any kind of constructive working relationship with the Tory government over the last 5 years. There was little to no respect or willingness from the likes of Boris Johnson to engage with the Scottish Government which made it extremely difficult to progress any of the meaningful actions that people in Scotland want to see.

With the Tories out of number 10 and Labour in, the relationship between the UK and Scottish governments has to improve – it’s what people across Scotland want and deserve.

In my first meeting with Keir Starmer, I underlined the SNP government’s commitment to working collaboratively and the importance of finding areas of shared interest – not just between our two governments, but also the people of Scotland – where we can make a positive difference to people’s lives.

For this to happen, it’s clear to me that the priorities we must be focussed on are eradicating poverty, growing the economy, reaching net zero, and improving and protecting our public services. These are priorities which are essential for Scotland’s future and which impact the lives of every single person in Scotland.

And whilst I remain hopeful about finding opportunities to work with the Labour government, SNP MPs at Westminster will continue to play a crucial role in holding Keir Starmer’s government to account and demanding bolder action. We’ve already seen this, following Labour’s announcement of billions of pounds of austerity cuts.

The SNP repeatedly warned of Labour’s damaging decision to copy Tory fiscal rules and spending plans would mean around £18 billion of cuts or tax rises. Organisations like the Institute for Fiscal Studies provided the evidence. Yet, every time, Labour dismissed it and promised voters “there’s not going to be a return to austerity under a Labour government.”

It took only a matter of weeks in government for Labour to roll back on their word and announce the damaging spending cuts they assured voters would not happen.

By choosing to continue the Tories’ fiscal rules, Labour is inflicting massive cuts to fill a £22 billion hole.

This will mean starving our public services and infrastructure of the investment they need, cutting social security for people already struggling to get by and it will have serious consequences for Scotland’s public finances – which will lead to very difficult decisions for the Scottish Government.

It doesn’t need to be this way though. This is a political choice Labour has made and the SNP will continue to call for these cuts to be reversed whilst making the logical case for investing in growth.

People in Scotland deserve better and the SNP will show that to be possible.

Over the next few weeks, I will be preparing for two big events – SNP conference and the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government. Both will follow a period of listening, reflection and healthy debate, and both of these events are an opportunity to set out my vision for the future, the driving force behind that vision and the practical steps the SNP can take to get there.

I am excited about what lies ahead because although the SNP has experienced a challenging time, we now have the opportunity to learn and grow from it. We must embrace the chance to reset, renew and demonstrate our ambition to make Scotland the best place in the world to live – and, in doing so, show why independence is the best way to do that.