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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• 31. 240,000 Hits? - Madeira

  Tuesday, December 4, 2007 22:09

  Number 17
  
  This is my 4th attempt to respond to your question. I visit each ministers blog 5 or 6 times each week or around 30 ´Hits´ which would reduce the count to 80,000 if everyone was of the same mind. I usually respond to submissions 2 or 3 times each day which which gets at least one reply from the same source, so 30,000? ´Hits´. Maybe it will come down to the 3,000 + submissions and you as the true figure.

• 32. Joe Kilmartin - Glasgow

  Tuesday, December 4, 2007 22:16

  To say that we have the chance to become a great Nation again. We are a great Nation of people. Politicians of the past have treated us like sheep, and we are not free from that shackel, lets use this chance to move this Nation "Scotland" forward.
  Give us the tools and we will do the job, give the people respect and you will get it back 100 times more.
  Lead us into a time of equality for all.
  Sorry about the spelling,
  Joe Glasgow

• 33. Lesley McDade - Edinburgh

  Tuesday, December 4, 2007 23:05

  Dear Nicola
  
  I attended the ADR Debate on 1 November 2007. What a shame. I subsequently put in a complaint to the First Minister noting a vote of "no confidence" in any political party in Scotland. I did email my MSP and 7 Lothian MSPs to raise the debate on my behalf - not least because I have the highest mind on the topic which apparently is anti-goverment - Kenny MacAskill has refused to meet me as Justice Minister. Social inclusion, year of Equality and Non-discrimination. When the Minister is too lilly livered to actually meet me to discuss my concerns about ADR being spun as "Access to Justice" in England & Wales and soon to be Scotland (Gill Consultation) and Europe via the Directive on Mediation (and I have written to Gordon Brown and David Milliband MPs and cc'd info to President of European Council (Portugal), where there is so much ignorance and deceit going on - I don't rate SNP's ability to DEBATE, BE INTELLIGENT, or be honest. If they can't even engage with their own people in a democratic society or what's left of it, then no one lives in a democracy.
  
  The Scots are being scammed concerning "Justice" in Scottish society and there is a nonsense occurring which is being promulgated from England under New Labour and is sourcing from America on the back of a Japanese concept.
  
  What are you all afraid of - surely not me.
  

• 34. Marion Ralls - Edinburgh

  Thursday, December 6, 2007 02:01

  Very glad there is this National Conversation, and all honour to the SNP Government for initiating it. Let's hope the other parties see sense and agree to one Constitutional Convention, with civil society and the full political spectrum 'round one table', discussing what's best for Scotland - with an open remit. Any true democracy must recognise the sovereignty of the people, and therefore listen to them.
  When we campaigned for the Scottish Parliament in the '90's we wanted a real participative democracy and suggested that the Parliamentary Committees should meet on a regular touring basis around the country, so that everyone, whether in Orkney or the Borders or wherever could know the Education/ Health/ Housing/ Transport etc etc were coming and arrange to discuss matters with them, on home ground. Could we resurrect this idea, rather than the odd token meetings that the previous govt held outside Edinburgh?
  Blogs and the Web are fine, but not a substitute for face-to-face dialogue.
  Marion Ralls
  

• 35. Dave Eastabrook - Largs, Ayrshire

  Thursday, December 6, 2007 17:55

  34. Marion Ralls - Edinburgh:
  A roadshow would be good. Let the government come to the people. Perhaps some of the numerous committees which I guess are all party, could meet at times all over Scotland, church halls, community centres or whatever, with public access. Open Government!
  
  This would incidentally show the advantage of devolution. And might help to advance the cause of Independence ...

• 36. R Bell - Edinburgh

  Sunday, December 9, 2007 16:06

  Shouldn't we be using the proper Scottish title, "depute" instead of "deputy"?

• 37. Thom Cross - Carluke

  Monday, December 10, 2007 15:46

  A wee INDEPENDENT nation I have called home for many years celebrates its Independence Day on the 30th of November- I speak of course about Barbados. Indpenedent since 1966 with a population of 260,000 it is well governed, smart, successful and pleasant. Free health services and FREE education including University is a strategic move to create an educated work force that in turn attracts high wage knowledge based industries from what was a sugar plantation island.
  So Scotland can join Barbados and celebrtae its Independence on 30th of November... but when? By the way Barbados has a Scotland District in the hilly area called of course St Andrew.

• 38. j mcintosh - glasgow

  Friday, December 14, 2007 15:56

  having met with politicians of all parties in an ongoing dispute with the gdc i am more than ever convinced that the way forward for our nation is complete independence.

• 39. s burnett - aberdeenshire

  Tuesday, December 18, 2007 08:18

  for nicola sturgeon and the guys out who might have porstate cancer like me there is a treatment called h.i.f.u.high intensity focused ultrasound it is nice approved with 16 clinics in england doing the treatment.with not one in scotlandi would urge anyone intrested to go to keyword h.i.f.u. and read about it. i hope you are as impressed as i was.we might with a bit of effort get a clinic or two in scotland or maybe 20 0-)))

• 40. Mike Shread - Inverurie/Cambridge/London

  Wednesday, January 9, 2008 00:15

  I travel around the UK a great deal. Those 'Bonnie Lights of Old Aberdeen', mean oh, so much to me! Such is moreso now we have a real Scottish Government and a future.
  
  My home is in Scotland, my soul is there too when away. I'm proud to be a Scot!

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