You have the right to decide Scotland’s future.
by You have the right to decide Scotland’s future. That is the common-sense position of the SNP – that decisions about Scotland should be taken by the people who live here.
Others have tried to shut down that debate in the past – but the fact is that if Scotland wants to have our say over our future, then we have the right to have one. And I do not think that has ever been more important or more necessary than it is today.
Over the weekend, we saw the awful spectacle of Nigel Farage’s party conference – as he looks more and more likely to become the next UK Prime Minister. Think about what that would mean. The man is calling for mass deportations, would privatise our NHS and wants to cut vital support for poor people. It is absolutely chilling, and I do not think Scotland wants any part of it.
And the UK Labour Government are in a total mess trying to respond – joining Farage in scapegoating vulnerable people to distract from their own failures.
And at time when people are struggling and living standards have stagnated, we have the ridiculous situation that Labour ministers promised cuts in energy prices before the election only for those energy prices to go up after the election.
What is a family sitting at home who cannot afford those sky-high energy bills meant to think of that? It would be laughable if it was not so serious.
Labour have never looked so out of touch with the people of Scotland. Frankly, they have never looked so out of touch with reality. When I look at what is going on in the UK, I would not be doing my job if I did not offer people a different choice.
The SNP Government is doing everything we can to make people’s lives better – but every step of the way we find ourselves being held back by a Westminster system that just is not working for Scotland.
So I think we need a fresh start. One which invests in public services like our NHS, uses our huge energy wealth to bring your bills down, puts us back into the EU and delivers an economy that works in the interests of the people of Scotland.
Independence will be the fresh start Scotland needs – and the SNP will give you the right to decide that better future.
Hitting the ground running after summer
Parliament is now back from its summer recess – and my government has hit the ground running to do everything we can to improve people’s lives and support our public services. And there is a lot to be positive about in Scotland right now.
We have seen real progress in our NHS. The number of operations performed has now risen to its highest level in five years. Numbers of newly qualified paramedics are up and we have delivered an increase in GPs.
Last week it was confirmed we have brought record numbers of empty homes back into use over the last year, and my colleague Mairi McAllan announced billions of pounds in investment in 36,000 new homes.
New evidence has been published showing that our policies are helping low-income families meaning they do not have to rely on foodbanks.
We have delivered new investment to help disabled people get into work. And we are one of the fastest growing start-up economies in Europe – as well as the best performing part of the UK for inward investment outside London and the South East. But we are not going to rest on our laurels.
There is a lot more to do – and I am determined to get it done.
A welcome move for commuters
We have abolished peak rail fares – for good. If you travel from Glasgow to Edinburgh, the cost of your ticket will be almost halved. The SNP Government is doing everything we can to help people through the cost of living crisis – and this will put much needed cash back in people’s pockets.