The Scottish Government

Nicola Sturgeon, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing

Friday, November 30, 2007

This is the first St Andrew's Day under an SNP Government, a day to celebrate Scotland at home and across the world.

It is an opportunity to recall our rich history, to think of the future and of the potential of this great country of ours.

On August 14 we launched the National Conversation. It is an attempt to avoid the political shouting matches that are a complete turn off for most people. It seeks to engage the people of Scotland in a mature conversation about Scotland's constitutional future.

I was reminded of the importance of the National Conversation when I read comments posted by the 'Livilion' on August 25: "This is the first time in my life that any Government has asked for my opinion, and being able to share it without them first deciding whether it was on message or not.'

Since coming into Government I have become ever more convinced of the need for change and the evidence of the National Conversation is that ordinary people are interested in the future. There have been over 240,000 hits on this website and contributions in their thousands from all shades of opinion.

I believe that Scotland has the talent and the potential to become one of big success stories of the 21st Century. I believe an independent Scotland can match the success of countries like independent Norway - the best place in the world to live according to the United Nations. Many contributors agree.

On August 30 Spiderman said if we 'improve national confidence, growth and opportunity and there is no limit to Scotland's future… imagine the potential if we had control of our own economy, education and industrial growth… Go for it in a non isolationist… inclusive light'.

Andrew in Aberdeen on November 9 said: "Independence is not about England. It's about a nation having the confidence to take responsibility and not to blame others for things that don't work."

We make no secret of our desire for independence but we know not everyone agrees with us. Some want more powers short of independence. Some want the status quo.

It is all part of the conversation. Not talking about the future isn't an option. I would encourage everyone with an interest in Scotland's future to get involved.

Happy St Andrew's Day!

This blog is now closed to further comments.

Comments

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• 1. nigel - borders

  Friday, November 30, 2007 08:40

  Scots are a distinct people but arguably Borderers are as distinct from Buchan folk as from Glasgow folk as from Shetland folk etc. The Basque's want separation from Spain. Thus the question arises where do you start and stop independence? Is the oil to the west of Shetland, Shetland oil or Scottish oil? Centres of power are historical often the result of strong individuals, Kings, Barons Lairds etc. They have no intrinsic "right" to control a "nations" resources rather an assumed right. Why should a parliament situated in Edinburgh determine resource allocation for Scotland. Inevitably there will be a bias in resource allocation witness the accusations levelled at London and south east England, witness £0.43 billion spent ona Parliament building in Edinburgh when £2.0 billion is required to bring Scottish roads up to standard. The EU tries for a federalist state, the further away from the centre the less the effect of resource allocation filters out. The application of "National" standards e.g. cost of schooling per capita, results in local schools, the location of which faciltates the realities of demographic dispersion in rural areas, being closed on economic grounds ignoring social considerations. After all elected representatives are meant to represent, they are not meant to serve the economics of business through "honey pot" planning or the application of economic benchmarks or norms.
  So in conclusion independence yes, no question, but maybe federalism/regionalism should be the plan not centralisation based on Edinburgh.

• 2. Lorne Bruce - Ayrshire

  Friday, November 30, 2007 10:01

  At last, a celebration of St Andrew's day and the start of a festival to boot!

• 3. Kevin - Edinburgh

  Friday, November 30, 2007 10:25

  
  Lets go for independence and make St Andrw's day a public holiday!.
  
  We have the lowest public holidays in europe and while were at it lets take back Jan 2nd bank holiday from the english.

• 4. C H Mitchell - Hope British Columba Canada

  Friday, November 30, 2007 10:47

  I moved to Canada on the 11th of april this year at the age of 63 because the cost of living in Scotland was to high.This dispite the fact that i retired with no debt,house and car paid up and credit cards clear.
  I in my life i have been to many places round the World while in the merchant navy, and came the understand how good a country Scotland was.
  I am delighted that after a lifetime of voting for the S.N.P. the last thing i did before leaving was to cast a vote and, do my little bit to put you in power.
  It is to late for me but you will change things in Scotland for the better of every one.
  
  C.H.Mitchell.

• 5. Anthony Rush - Renfrewshire

  Friday, November 30, 2007 11:42

  As ever the SNP refer to concepts without explaining their meaning or relevance. What does Ms. Sturgeon mean by "rich history" and how are we to use it to think of the future and the potential of Scotland.
  
  The future and potential lies in making best uses of Scotland's resources in a modern world - not dewlling on the pst.
  
  Again we are given life in Norway as a goal. Again without explanation.
  
  I find it very difficult to see how Scotland can replicate the way that Norway has developed. Norway gained its full independence over 100 years ago, by threatening military action. But they had in effect been "devolved" for over 70 years before that. It was occupied in the War and its resistance efforts were greater than most other occupied countries. They just don't speak about it.
  
  Norwegians are a very proud people who wave their flag at every opportunity. 17th of May is National Day and the whole country parades. There is a strong sense of identity and national costume is worn by young and old alike. They don't take delight in demeaning their national traditions by applauding an emulation of a "tartan army"
  
  Norwegian is a very literal language and in business they deal with matters on a very straightforward basis. They are very modest and explain that they haven’t widely sought inward investment because - “nobody would be interested”.
  
  Over the last 40 years Norway has lost its place as the No 1 Shipping Nation and become an oil and gas state. However, local industry has developed local crafts and skills.
  
  Personal Taxation.
  
  A person in Norway earning circa £50k p.a will pay c£23k in taxation, plus 2.5% wealth and property tax. There is no Council Tax equivalent and the
  property tax is based on a valuation which is less than market valuation. (I
  think about 75%). VAT is 21%.
  
  Of course drink and cars are very much more expensive that in UK.
  
  Employment
  
  Unemployment is currently about 2% - I don’t think that it has changed in the 40 years I have visited Norway. The boom depends on immigrant labour and professionals. There is no NEET problem to speak of.
  
  Education.
  
  Seems to be a good system. There are complaints at the quality of primary school education. I am not aware that there are quotas for graduate/school leaver proportions.
  
  Environment
  
  A strong sense of protection. Also Norwegians go out to enjoy the environment they live in. A lesser sense of urban and rural communities. Norwegians are close to nature.
  
  Health
  
  The system seems to be much the same as UK– an emphasis on on the need to get the waiting lists down and “hospital bugs”. As the economy has boomed so have expectations. There is a charging system for treatment and prescriptions.
  
  Welfare
  
  Simply can be described as ‘fantastic’. Norwegians are very proud of their welfare system and any complaints I am aware of are directed towards immigrants making use of it.
  
  Social Problems
  
  Drug and crime related problems. Norway has legalized prostitution which increases the problem of ‘people trafficking’.
  
  Housing.
  
  High inflation but mortgage interest rates are 3.5-4.5%. Very similar problems to Scotland – but generally a better housing stock.
  
  Oil Revenues
  
  A reserve fund of NKr. 2,000 billion and complaints that the people don’t enjoy it today.
  
  

• 6. Gie's a brek! - Fife

  Friday, November 30, 2007 12:34

  Are you seriously suggesting that we Scots don't know how to party?
  
  Better let Kenny MacAskill know you are going behind his back promoting two months of boozing while he is desperately trying to stop it!!!!
  
  From Hogmanay to Christmas Scotland has more excuses to bevy than it knows what to do with, Burns' Night, Easter, Mayfest, all the Fairs, Edinburgh Festival, Edinburgh Film Festival, September Weekend, St Andrew's Day.
  
  We know where are and where we came from.
  
  Stop insulting the Scottish electorate by trying to impose a completely unecessary burden on their livers, and do what you were elected to do, i.e. look after our health and welfare.
  
  Health Minister??

• 7. JAMES MURRAY - TAIN

  Friday, November 30, 2007 12:40

  MY PROBLEM IS NOT WITH THE ENGLISH PEOPLE. AFTER ALL I HAVE ENGLISH GRANDCHILDREN---WHAT RUFFLES MY FEATHERS IS THE SUPERIOR ATTITUDE OF THE WESTMINSTER ESTABLISHMENT WHO REGARD SCOTLAND AS A REGION OF ENGLAND AND THE CONSTANT UNTRUTHS THAT WE ARE SUBSIDISED BY WESTMINSTER WHEN THE CONVERSE IS THE TRUTH.WHAT A REFRESHING ATTITUDE THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT HAS COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION BY PUTTING SCOTLAND'S NEEDS FIRST.
  KEEP ON ALEC AND YOUR TEAM, YOU ARE DOING A BRILLIANT JOB IN SPITE OF WESTMINSTER REDUCING THE SETTLEMENT AND THE OPPOSITION BULLDOZING THROUGH £500m
  ON UNWANTED EDINBURGH TRAMS

• 8. John Harrower - Oban

  Friday, November 30, 2007 13:14

  Let's go for Independence ASAP.

• 9. Alan Davidson - Brussels

  Friday, November 30, 2007 13:20

  Indeed, a happy St. Andrew's Day to everyone. I hope that in time, this day will become a national holiday in Scotland.

• 10. ecosseman - glasgow

  Friday, November 30, 2007 14:07

  scotland is at long last on the positive road to success for its hard and under paid working people.we need all our friends throughout the world to pass on this message.i hope st Andrew's day will be celebrated everywhere cheers to all our ain folk.

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