Chamber and committees

I agree with the overwhelming majority of what Pauline McNeill has said, if not all of it. I commend Police Scotland for the work that it has done in driving some of the increase in reporting through the very successful “That guy” campaign, which I think is acknowledged across the parliamentary chamber as one of the most effective means of communication.

The Government is still dealing with the implications of the Covid pandemic on the criminal justice system, and we have sought approvals from the Parliament for further extensions. However, we will not seek any further extensions to those arrangements—I give Pauline McNeill that assurance.

Obviously, there are other steps that we can take. Indeed, yesterday, the court of appeal determined on the Lord Advocate’s reference in relation to corroboration, which will obviously have an effect on questions in relation to prosecution.

Mr Brown used a couple of examples that illustrate some of the many remaining challenges that we face. Pensioners have lost their winter fuel payment as a consequence of a decision by the United Kingdom Labour Government, and the persisting maintenance of the two-child cap is forcing more and more children and families into poverty. It is beyond me to understand why, when there is a projected budget surplus in a three-year period, the two-child cap has not been lifted immediately by the UK Government. We were told in the summer to be patient until the UK budget, but we have been patient and the Labour Government has not delivered what people expected.

I recognise the need to increase taxation in the budget and, during the election campaign, I argued that that issue had to be confronted. However, I believe that some of that increase could have come from the UK Government following the Scottish Government’s tax approach in asking people on higher incomes to pay more in taxation, which could have generated about £20 billion in increased revenue and avoided some of the punishing business taxes that have been applied, particularly to the Scotch whisky industry and other sectors of the Scottish—[Interruption.]

I understand the significance of the point that Mr Halcro Johnston raises. I am concerned about the delayed discharge situation, especially in Highland, where it is particularly acute. The proposed closure that Mr Halcro Johnston raises will only exacerbate that situation, so it would be moving things in the wrong direction. The Government has engaged substantively. The health secretary, along with the Deputy First Minister in her local representative capacity, have been engaged in those discussions, and all possible options have been explored by the Government. I understand that the issue that Mr Halcro Johnston puts to me is being considered by Highland Council today. The Government stands ready and willing to engage on finding a solution, because the impact of the proposed closure would mean matters moving in entirely the opposite direction to the one that I want to see happening.

Some weeks ago, I had a discussion in Stornoway with an organisation that provides support and care to patients who require access to cancer treatment—the name is not at the front of my mind just now—about the substantive challenges that Rhoda Grant has raised with me regarding the practicalities of accessing hospital treatment from the islands when a sustained period of care is required.

I give Rhoda Grant the assurance that the health secretary and the transport ministers are looking closely at the situation to ensure that we are providing all the support that we can so that individuals who require to access healthcare needs are able to do so, regardless of their location.

Earlier this year, information was released under freedom of information requests that showed that there had been no breaches of protocol.

I really do not think that it is a big surprise that a Government that has had a consistent policy position for 17 years in favour of renewable energy development should take a decision to grant consent to a renewable energy development. What the question represents is the grubbing at the bottom of a barrel by Douglas Lumsden and the Conservatives. It debases this Parliament, it debases the Conservative Party and it shows that it has nothing constructive to say in Scottish politics.

It is with sadness that I move the motion of condolence on the death of Alex Salmond, the fourth First Minister of Scotland. On behalf of the Scottish Government and the people of Scotland, I express my deepest sympathies to Alex’s wife, Moira, to his family and to his friends.

Many tributes have been made since Alex’s sudden death. They include the tributes that have been left outside this building and the many signatures that have been added to the book of condolence here in the Scottish Parliament and online. The flags on Scottish Government buildings flew at half mast at the time of his death, they did so again yesterday on the occasion of his funeral and they will do so again today as the motion of condolence is debated. The minute of applause that we witnessed at Scotland’s recent football match with Portugal was a tribute to Alex’s enduring love of the beautiful game.

Alex Salmond left an indelible mark on Scotland and on Scottish and United Kingdom politics and public life. He was born in Linlithgow in 1954, and it was not long before his reputation for being a rebel was built. He studied economics at the University of St Andrews and joined the Scottish National Party during that time, becoming an influential member of the 79 group.

Elected politics began for Alex Salmond in 1987, when he became the MP for Banff and Buchan—he was one of only three SNP MPs at that time. He went on to serve in the same constituency when this Parliament was first elected in 1999. In a political career that spanned three decades and two Parliaments, Alex became leader of the Scottish National Party in 1990 and again in 2004. He became the first SNP First Minister of Scotland in 2007 and served in that role for more than seven years. He led a Government that was wholly devoted to serving the people of Scotland. That Government and that devotion to Scotland and her people continue today.

I first met Alex in the SNP club in North St Andrew Street in Edinburgh in 1981. He had come to speak to—literally—a handful of young Scottish nationalists, of whom I was one, who were trying to stir things up in Edinburgh for our cause. Much of what I heard from Alex on that day 43 years ago is reflected in the assessments that we have heard in recent days of Alex’s contribution to Scottish politics. He was creative in the arguments that he put forward. He was driven to make the case for Scottish independence. He was fierce in his analysis of political rivals and determined to challenge their positions. He was, in short, a “man o’ independent mind”—that reference was taken from his favourite Burns poem, which summed up his politics and his aspirations.

I served for seven years as his finance and economy secretary. It was a relationship that was generally defined by the First Minister wanting to spend more money than we actually had available and the finance secretary trying to make as many of the First Minister’s creative ideas happen as was possible. It was never a relationship without challenging moments, but he recognised—perhaps reluctantly—that possessing financial credibility was always an advantage in government.

Many of the significant moments in my political life took place when I was working closely with Alex Salmond: our success in securing the re-election of Winnie Ewing to the European Parliament in 1994, where she was joined by our dear friend Dr Allan Macartney; Roseanna Cunningham’s success in the Perth and Kinross by-election in 1995; my own election to the House of Commons in 1997; persuading our party to support a yes-yes position in the 1997 referendum; the election at that time of the largest group of SNP parliamentarians in one night in the 1999 elections to the Scottish Parliament; our entry into government in 2007; the passing of the first budget of an SNP Government in 2008; and the build-up to the independence referendum in 2014.

Those were all landmark moments that brought much joy, but I must acknowledge that our relationship changed over the past six years. We all know that, in life, human relationships can change. One moment, they are strong; the next, they are not. Politics is no different because, at all levels, politics is simply about people.

What cannot be denied by anyone is that Alex Salmond led the Scottish National Party from the fringes of Scottish politics to become the Government of Scotland and come close to winning our country’s independence. That has changed Scotland and our politics forever.

It is now up to those of us who believe that Scotland should be an independent country to make that case and win that future.

I move,

That the Parliament expresses its shock and sadness at the untimely death of Alex Salmond; offers its deep sympathy and condolences to his family and friends; appreciates the many years of public service that he gave as an MP, MSP, and First Minister of Scotland, and recognises the substantial and significant contribution that he made over many decades to public life, Scottish and UK politics and the cause of Scottish independence.

[Applause.]

It is with sadness that I move the motion of condolence on the death of Alex Salmond, the fourth First Minister of Scotland. On behalf of the Scottish Government and the people of Scotland, I express my deepest sympathies to Alex’s wife, Moira, to his family and to his friends.

Many tributes have been made since Alex’s sudden death. They include the tributes that have been left outside this building and the many signatures that have been added to the book of condolence here in the Scottish Parliament and online. The flags on Scottish Government buildings flew at half mast at the time of his death, they did so again yesterday on the occasion of his funeral and they will do so again today as the motion of condolence is debated. The minute of applause that we witnessed at Scotland’s recent football match with Portugal was a tribute to Alex’s enduring love of the beautiful game.

Alex Salmond left an indelible mark on Scotland and on Scottish and United Kingdom politics and public life. He was born in Linlithgow in 1954, and it was not long before his reputation for being a rebel was built. He studied economics at the University of St Andrews and joined the Scottish National Party during that time, becoming an influential member of the 79 group.

Elected politics began for Alex Salmond in 1987, when he became the MP for Banff and Buchan—he was one of only three SNP MPs at that time. He went on to serve in the same constituency when this Parliament was first elected in 1999. In a political career that spanned three decades and two Parliaments, Alex became leader of the Scottish National Party in 1990 and again in 2004. He became the first SNP First Minister of Scotland in 2007 and served in that role for more than seven years. He led a Government that was wholly devoted to serving the people of Scotland. That Government and that devotion to Scotland and her people continue today.

I first met Alex in the SNP club in North St Andrew Street in Edinburgh in 1981. He had come to speak to—literally—a handful of young Scottish nationalists, of whom I was one, who were trying to stir things up in Edinburgh for our cause. Much of what I heard from Alex on that day 43 years ago is reflected in the assessments that we have heard in recent days of Alex’s contribution to Scottish politics. He was creative in the arguments that he put forward. He was driven to make the case for Scottish independence. He was fierce in his analysis of political rivals and determined to challenge their positions. He was, in short, a “man o’ independent mind”—that reference was taken from his favourite Burns poem, which summed up his politics and his aspirations.

I served for seven years as his finance and economy secretary. It was a relationship that was generally defined by the First Minister wanting to spend more money than we actually had available and the finance secretary trying to make as many of the First Minister’s creative ideas happen as was possible. It was never a relationship without challenging moments, but he recognised—perhaps reluctantly—that possessing financial credibility was always an advantage in government.

Many of the significant moments in my political life took place when I was working closely with Alex Salmond: our success in securing the re-election of Winnie Ewing to the European Parliament in 1994, where she was joined by our dear friend Dr Allan Macartney; Roseanna Cunningham’s success in the Perth and Kinross by-election in 1995; my own election to the House of Commons in 1997; persuading our party to support a yes-yes position in the 1997 referendum; the election at that time of the largest group of SNP parliamentarians in one night in the 1999 elections to the Scottish Parliament; our entry into government in 2007; the passing of the first budget of an SNP Government in 2008; and the build-up to the independence referendum in 2014.

Those were all landmark moments that brought much joy, but I must acknowledge that our relationship changed over the past six years. We all know that, in life, human relationships can change. One moment, they are strong; the next, they are not. Politics is no different because, at all levels, politics is simply about people.

What cannot be denied by anyone is that Alex Salmond led the Scottish National Party from the fringes of Scottish politics to become the Government of Scotland and come close to winning our country’s independence. That has changed Scotland and our politics forever.

It is now up to those of us who believe that Scotland should be an independent country to make that case and win that future.

I move,

That the Parliament expresses its shock and sadness at the untimely death of Alex Salmond; offers its deep sympathy and condolences to his family and friends; appreciates the many years of public service that he gave as an MP, MSP, and First Minister of Scotland, and recognises the substantial and significant contribution that he made over many decades to public life, Scottish and UK politics and the cause of Scottish independence.

[Applause.]

It is with sadness that I move the motion of condolence on the death of Alex Salmond, the fourth First Minister of Scotland. On behalf of the Scottish Government and the people of Scotland, I express my deepest sympathies to Alex’s wife, Moira, to his family and to his friends.

Many tributes have been made since Alex’s sudden death. They include the tributes that have been left outside this building and the many signatures that have been added to the book of condolence here in the Scottish Parliament and online. The flags on Scottish Government buildings flew at half mast at the time of his death, they did so again yesterday on the occasion of his funeral and they will do so again today as the motion of condolence is debated. The minute of applause that we witnessed at Scotland’s recent football match with Portugal was a tribute to Alex’s enduring love of the beautiful game.

Alex Salmond left an indelible mark on Scotland and on Scottish and United Kingdom politics and public life. He was born in Linlithgow in 1954, and it was not long before his reputation for being a rebel was built. He studied economics at the University of St Andrews and joined the Scottish National Party during that time, becoming an influential member of the 79 group.

Elected politics began for Alex Salmond in 1987, when he became the MP for Banff and Buchan—he was one of only three SNP MPs at that time. He went on to serve in the same constituency when this Parliament was first elected in 1999. In a political career that spanned three decades and two Parliaments, Alex became leader of the Scottish National Party in 1990 and again in 2004. He became the first SNP First Minister of Scotland in 2007 and served in that role for more than seven years. He led a Government that was wholly devoted to serving the people of Scotland. That Government and that devotion to Scotland and her people continue today.

I first met Alex in the SNP club in North St Andrew Street in Edinburgh in 1981. He had come to speak to—literally—a handful of young Scottish nationalists, of whom I was one, who were trying to stir things up in Edinburgh for our cause. Much of what I heard from Alex on that day 43 years ago is reflected in the assessments that we have heard in recent days of Alex’s contribution to Scottish politics. He was creative in the arguments that he put forward. He was driven to make the case for Scottish independence. He was fierce in his analysis of political rivals and determined to challenge their positions. He was, in short, a “man o’ independent mind”—that reference was taken from his favourite Burns poem, which summed up his politics and his aspirations.

I served for seven years as his finance and economy secretary. It was a relationship that was generally defined by the First Minister wanting to spend more money than we actually had available and the finance secretary trying to make as many of the First Minister’s creative ideas happen as was possible. It was never a relationship without challenging moments, but he recognised—perhaps reluctantly—that possessing financial credibility was always an advantage in government.

Many of the significant moments in my political life took place when I was working closely with Alex Salmond: our success in securing the re-election of Winnie Ewing to the European Parliament in 1994, where she was joined by our dear friend Dr Allan Macartney; Roseanna Cunningham’s success in the Perth and Kinross by-election in 1995; my own election to the House of Commons in 1997; persuading our party to support a yes-yes position in the 1997 referendum; the election at that time of the largest group of SNP parliamentarians in one night in the 1999 elections to the Scottish Parliament; our entry into government in 2007; the passing of the first budget of an SNP Government in 2008; and the build-up to the independence referendum in 2014.

Those were all landmark moments that brought much joy, but I must acknowledge that our relationship changed over the past six years. We all know that, in life, human relationships can change. One moment, they are strong; the next, they are not. Politics is no different because, at all levels, politics is simply about people.

What cannot be denied by anyone is that Alex Salmond led the Scottish National Party from the fringes of Scottish politics to become the Government of Scotland and come close to winning our country’s independence. That has changed Scotland and our politics forever.

It is now up to those of us who believe that Scotland should be an independent country to make that case and win that future.

I move,

That the Parliament expresses its shock and sadness at the untimely death of Alex Salmond; offers its deep sympathy and condolences to his family and friends; appreciates the many years of public service that he gave as an MP, MSP, and First Minister of Scotland, and recognises the substantial and significant contribution that he made over many decades to public life, Scottish and UK politics and the cause of Scottish independence.

[Applause.]

I am certain that that provision has always been in the ministerial code—it has certainly been in the code throughout my term in office as a minister. The ministerial code says that the fact and content of opinions or advice given by the law officers, either individually or collectively, must not be disclosed publicly without their authority. In taking the step that I took at the weekend, I had first to seek the Lord Advocate’s agreement before I could proceed.

I assure Lorna Slater that the development of procedures to deal with the very issues that she has raised—which are legitimate issues of substance—has been addressed by the Government. Subsequent to that, I gave a series of updates to the Finance and Public Administration Committee as Deputy First Minister before I left office to assure the committee that that was happening in practical effect. My recollection is that that process was concluded to the satisfaction of the committee, but, if I need to change the record on that point, I will do so in writing to Lorna Slater. My recollection is that the committee was satisfied with the progress that had been made to address the substantial points that Lorna Slater put to me.