Chamber and committees

Some of the data that has been published is illustrative of the economic impact of the budget. The information from the Resolution Foundation indicates that, over the course of the UK parliamentary session, there is likely to be about half a per cent increase in average household incomes as a consequence of the measures that have been taken in the budget. That will leave a lot of people feeling that their living standards have not increased in any meaningful fashion over the course of the parliamentary session. That reinforces the point that Michelle Thomson made, and the Labour Government will have to explain that to the public.

The point that I was making is that there are tax choices to be made, and I am one who has argued for taxes to increase. We have actually increased taxes, and there was a way in which the UK Government could have done that, by asking people on higher incomes to pay more in taxation. That would have generated about £20 billion of revenue and would have avoided some of the damaging tax increases, such as the one that is going to undermine the competitiveness of the Scotch whisky industry. I understand why the Scotch whisky industry and business are aggrieved at the Labour Government, because they were promised economic stability, but they are not getting that from the Labour Government.

I have sympathy with the Labour Government in the United Kingdom in that it has inherited an entirely unsustainable set of circumstances in the public finances, because of the absolutely menacing agenda of the Conservative Government for 14 years. It is the ultimate deceit for Mr Findlay and the Conservatives to criticise those of us who must take difficult decisions to clear up the mess that the Conservatives have created.

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.]

On Jackie Baillie’s first point, the Government has just published 101 pages of legally privileged information. [Interruption.]

I confirm that position. As the Minister for Parliamentary Business said in his answer to Liam Kerr a moment ago, the Government’s agreement to the direction from the freedom of information commissioner, which we responded to at the weekend, does not set a precedent for our approach. We maintain our position that legal advice should be the subject of legal professional privilege for the Government in the same way that it is for every other organisation and citizen in the land. That is a fundamental part of our legal system. In addition to that, it is specifically recognised in the FOI legislation that was passed in 2002 that that should be the case.

The point that I have tried to make to Parliament is that I had no alternative but to interact with the inquiry secretariat, because I was the sponsoring minister who was responsible for the conduct of the Government’s participation in that inquiry. It would simply be an impossibility for the inquiry to operate and communicate with Government if it had not had a minister who was a ministerial sponsor. Public expenditure could not have been allocated without the agreement of a relevant minister, and that minister, as was openly shared with Parliament, was me.

Those arrangements were put in place to make sure that the inquiry could function and take the necessary decisions that it took. As I have said to Parliament, I had no knowledge of the contents of the proceedings of the inquiry until I saw Mr Hamilton’s report on 22 March 2021.

Yes, I can confirm that point.