The Scottish Government

First Minister Alex Salmond

Friday, November 30, 2007

We in the Scottish Government believe that sovereignty in Scotland lies with its people.

That is why our manifesto for the Scottish Parliamentary elections this year promised to provide an opportunity for the people to consider the concept of Scottish independence in a referendum during this Parliament.

As First Minister, it is my responsibility to explore and lead discussion on the options for constitutional change. I lead the first Scottish National Party Government to be elected in a devolved Scotland, so I will put the case for independence, its benefits and opportunities.

However, I also recognise there is a range of other views in our country and represented in the Parliament. The national conversation on our future is to allow the people of Scotland to debate, reflect and then decide on the type of Government which best equips Scotland for the future.

It is 10 years since the referendum to establish the Scottish Parliament. We have seen the potential of a Scottish Parliament to respond to the wishes and needs of the people of this country. But we have also seen the limitations of its current responsibilities.

I believe it is now time for us, the people of Scotland, to consider and choose our own future in the modern world.

Alex Salmond, First Minister

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• 1716. Getting Bored? - Fife

  Monday, November 19, 2007 12:48

  #2114? submissions.
  
  Looks like the enthusiasm is falling off.
  
  Maybe the disillusionment of 14th November budget announcement, and the SNP's anxiety in passing the buck to the councils has something to do with it!
  
  Only 3 years 8 months to go.

• 1715. Smell the coffee not the pooh - Fife

  Sunday, November 18, 2007 17:03

  #1713
  
  The SNP are not the first government to fail to meet all their manifesto promises, but they must hold the record for breaing promises the KNEW they could not keep.
  
  Mr Salmond & Mr Swinney must have had a good idea of how much they would have in the kitty, and surely must have costed SOME of the promises they made! In short THEY new the manifest promises could NOT be met.
  
  They will not have the same advantages they had at the last election.
  The Electorate will remember the arrogance and dismissive manner in which they defended their failure.
  
  Fiona Hislop's defence of the failure to even guess at the reduction in class sizes over the next four years was pathetic. In opposition quite clear, a maximum of 18 pupils in primaries 1, 2 and 3. Now, in goverment, 'It's up to the councils'? Indeed class sizes may GO UP. Not her fault, is it? I'll save space on the rest of the failures, you probably would deny them anyway.
  
  If all YOU need is your government to set ambitious targets but not achieve them, then welcome to cloud cuckooland, you voted for it. Just a pity you sank the rest of us as well.

• 1714. No Rose Coloured Glasses Here - Fife

  Friday, November 16, 2007 23:48

  #1709 Colin
  
  Since when did a Scottish citizen need self government to be confident in their ability to make their way in the world, and in Scotland.
  
  I don't know what programme you were watching but my observation of the First Ministers performance was that of a person in deep trouble!! He was unable to quote the level of policing we can expect over the next year never mind the next four. 150 new recruits falls 850 short of HIS promise. Asking the opposition to nominate what cuts they would make is rich when his Finance Minister had made all the cuts already.
  
  Reduced policing, reduced nursery provision, reduced free school meals, no reduction in P1, P2, P3 class sizes, all abandoned to catch the headlines with a freeze on the Community charge for ONE year, according to the COSLA spokesman, for THREE years according to the Finance Minister. Given the foregoing who do you believe?
  
  For the record I personally do not need a third party to fight my corner, I've always cast my own shadow in this world, as have many other Scots who have made their mark in the world.
  
  If anyone has problems getting on with their ambitions then maybe they should look at themselves first and get out there and just DO IT. Being self governing country will do nothing to make the citizens of that country successful.
  
  Its individual self governance and control that brings success and satisfaction.

• 1713. Dog bites man fae Fife - Glasgow

  Friday, November 16, 2007 22:35

  Hey Fifey, we could always go back to voting labour eh? What's all that about pensions then, are you Gordon Brown?
  
  The SNP are here to stay for a while son. More powers are on their way to Scotland, even your mob now agree with that.
  
  More and more Scots are right behind them and people like you are a dwindling number.
  
  Aye, the economy, who is it has been in control of THAT for years? A bloody country with all the resources that we've got and this is where we are?
  
  Are the SNP the first Government to fail to honour a manifesto pledge? No, of course they're not, but you want to forget that don't you.
  
  I know the SNP won't succeed with everything but at least they're willing to have a go.
  
  As for Marilyn from Edinburgh, another one of these fantasy "I opted for the SNP.....but now I am fuming" fraud posters.
  
  Scotland is more than capable of standing on the world stage as an independent country. The only thing that can stop us is ourselves.....and guys frae Fife.

• 1712. Marilyn - Edinburgh

  Friday, November 16, 2007 09:13

  I was prepared to give the SNP the benefit of the doubt as they have certainly been saying a lot of good things since May. However, the budget announcement and the adverse effect it will have on Scotland's universities have changed my mind!

• 1711. Lorren - Scotland

  Friday, November 16, 2007 01:00

  I lived 19 years in Scotland. I left in 1965. I lived in the southern part of England from 1965 to 1970, five years.
  
  The standard of living at that time in England was so far superior to the standard of living in the Scotland I had just left. It was an eye opener.
  
  Scotland only now in the year 2007 have achieved a standard of living almost, but not quite, equivilant of life in the south of England 37 years ago.
  
  A disgrace.
  
  Also the English people who resent the Scots for finally having a bit of a life and a VERY small say in how our country is run are welcome to vote for Scots Independence. We Need You. Please keep on doing what you are doing.
  
  Keep telling everyone how we Scots are getting too much .300 years of domination is enough already.

• 1710. It's a dog's life - Fife

  Thursday, November 15, 2007 22:51

  Hey, Dog
  
  Well it's a good nom de plume, at least dogs are attracted by pooh, and you seem to be revelling in it!
  
  So it's okay to promise the earth so you can get elected to be the GOVERNMENT and fix up your salary and pension so that YOUR okay, is it? AND you have a parliamentary colleague who will lead you through the monetary taxation system to make sure you optimise your cash in hand and minimise your tax payments, while at the same time screwing the electorate for every penny he can.
  
  Dream on, smell the coffee not the bullsh*t and see what is really happening to the economy.
  
  How do you make a 2% cut in expenditure, easy, get rid of jobs in the public services. Who gets the blame? The people you have told to get rid of the jobs, oops, to make a 2% saving.
  
  That is why we can only match the rest of the UK in growth by 2011, we have to absorb the redundant personnel in employment BEFORE we can grow!!
  

• 1709. Colin Bruce - Falkirk

  Thursday, November 15, 2007 13:31

  My personal feeling since the SNP have become the ruling party in Scotland is one of growing pride and confidence within Scotland. I have read many articles on the first minister and have to say I like how he handles himself when questioned on difficult matters he honestly and truthfully gives facts and figures to back up his answers, which everyone must admit having listened to the previous first minister is refreshing to say the least. Let's give Scotland back to Scotland and forget about this squabbling between other parties let's make Scotland once again a great place to live and a safe place to raise or childrenand grandchildren.

• 1708. Dog - Glasgow

  Tuesday, November 13, 2007 20:18

  Hey cat, you should've voted labour and got no recruits at all and no more bizzies on the beat either. If you factor in the ones leaving the service then Labour would have this number LESS even the 500.
  
  I reckon that 100's of thousands voted for the SNP for many reasons, including an increase in recruits and extra police on the streets.
  
  If you are fuming with rage now then you can always go back to voting Labour and then there will be no disappointment because they have no ambition. You can then rest easy knowing that mediocrity will be strived for.
  
  I have to say shame on you for judging a new minority government on the back of one partially honoured pledge. Scots are no longer being treated like numpties except by fraudulent posters like you.
  
  There's a new confidence about this wee place and many people like it. The new government won't be able to honour every pledge, but it won't be for lack of trying.
  
  P.S. My name isn't Dog and I don't pretend to be a disgusted 'new SNP voter'.

• 1707. Cat - Edinburgh

  Tuesday, November 13, 2007 11:43

  How can a manifesto pledge to recruit 1,000 new police officers possibly become only 500? When you factor in the numbers of police officers leaving the service, it is a real possiblity that NOT ONE EXTRA POLICE OFFICER will be recruited over the life of this parliament.
  
  I reckon thousands of Scots voted SNP on the back of promises to increase the numbers of police officers.
  
  I am fuming with rage - this is a disgrace and no way for any self-respecting government to treat voters.
  
  I hate to say it but shame on those who voted SNP. No wonder we Scots are treated like numpties by politicians.
  
  
  

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