John Swinney
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“Since the report from several years ago was published, the Government has presided over the passage of legislation to rationalise that area of activity. Work is under way to transfer the responsibility for the funding of further education student support from the Scottish Funding Council to the Student Awards Agency Scotland.”
“I appreciate the urgency of the general policy elements of the question, because a number of applications are now being considered by planning authorities. My view is that, given the concerns that have been expressed by planning authorities, the Government has to be responsive to the issue.”
“For as long as we do not have a proper strategy on prison capacity, rehabilitation and clearing the court backlog, early release will be a revolving door, with people going in, coming out and going back into our prisons. Our justice system is in crisis, so we need a strategy.”
“I associate myself unreservedly Mr Cole-Hamilton’s comments about the feelings in the Muslim community. On Monday, I visited the Broomhouse mosque along with Simita Kumar and the Annandale Street mosque in Edinburgh with Ben Macpherson.”
“The development of further guidance will be undertaken in a manner consistent with the ruling by Lady Ross. Malcolm Offord: I thank the First Minister for his answer, which was more comprehensive than I expected.”
“I am a huge supporter of apprenticeship programmes. With foundation apprenticeships and graduate apprenticeships, the Government has brought forward important reforms that create new and successful pathways for young people. I am determined to make sure that every young person has that desirable pathway for their future.”
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“I have every sympathy with Mrs Rollinson for the loss that she has suffered, and I pay tribute to her husband, who should not have experienced what he experienced in the course of his responsibilities. Issues of sentencing are taken forward independently by the judiciary, and it would be inappropriate for me to question sentences that are set out. Various legislative issues have to be considered before anyone is released, and that process will take its course, but I take the opportunity to express my sympathy to Mrs Rollinson on the heartbreak that she suffered in the loss of her husband and the anxiety that the issue will be causing her today. Ferry Disruption (Isle of Lewis)”
“We shared the final report of our social tariff working group with the UK Government in March this year, asking it to act on the recommendations. Analysis this week shows that, if those recommendations were implemented, around 660,000 households in Scotland would see their bills go down by an average of £700 under a targeted bill discount, lifting more than 150,000 households out of fuel poverty. We continue to seek engagement with the UK Government on that work and our position remains that it must take urgent action to protect households and to deliver on its promises, which it has singularly failed to do to date. Killer of Keith Rollinson (Early Release)”
“My substantive point was that there is, in my view, no requirement for legislative change because the decision is about court procedure. Claire Baker’s question highlights important issues relating to the conduct of court cases, which can have a bearing on the type of questions that are asked and on the type of evidence that is given and can cause enormous distress to the victims in those cases, who are invariably women. The Government will carefully consider the implications of the ruling in the course of time and the courts will have to reflect on those issues. It would be deeply regrettable if there was any return to some of the court practices that were deeply distressing to the victims of sexual crime and I set out today my desire to ensure that that is not the outcome of the Supreme Court judgment. Energy Bills (Social Tariffs)”
“I know that the judiciary will consider the issues that arise as a consequence of the Supreme Court judgment, but there is no requirement for us to change the law. Supreme Court Judgment (Sexual Offences Trials)”
“The Supreme Court judgment gives detailed consideration to the complex issues that are involved in the admissibility of evidence in sexual offences trials. It is clear from the judgment that there is no requirement for a change in the provisions in the law that specifically regulates those matters, which are sections 274 and 275 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995. The Supreme Court said that it is for all judges in sexual offences cases to reflect the ruling as they would any other Supreme Court ruling that was relevant to them in the handling of such cases. It is therefore a matter for the courts, which, as Mr Fraser will know, operate independently of the Government.”
“While I am speaking about MND, I also pay tribute to Sheriff Alastair Carmichael, a sheriff in Dundee who is very courageously continuing to work as a sheriff with adaptive technology and has shared his case publicly with us all. I wish to express my admiration for Sheriff Carmichael and for the courageous example that he sets for us all in the face of the challenges that he is experiencing. He is an example to us all, as I know that Chelsea and her family will be. Supreme Court Judgment (Sexual Offences Trials)”
“I am sorry to hear of the case that Mr Doris brings to my attention on behalf of his constituent Chelsea. I send Chelsea and her family my very best wishes. One of the important issues here is the ability to adapt properties to meet the needs of individuals or, potentially, to construct new-build properties. That cannot be done overnight. We have increased the budget for adaptations to £20.9 million. One of the reasons for doing that was to make sure that we had suitable accommodation for cases such as Chelsea’s. If Mr Doris would like to share details with me, I will use whatever endeavours I can in my office to try to resolve the situation.”
“I agree with Ariane Burgess on the importance of taking such action to help us on our journey to net zero, and that is exactly the focus of the Government’s climate change plan.”
“It is vital that we urgently step up restoration efforts, but, in the new draft climate change plan, the Government is slowing things down. Increasing restoration by 10 per cent a year represents a major deceleration compared with the previous 2030 target. First Minister, why is your Government going backwards on that key policy at the same time as pledging to do more for climate and nature? The Presiding Officer: Always speak through the chair. The First Minister: As I set out in my earlier answer, we are taking a number of steps to extend our commitments on peatland restoration. That is one part of the programme for climate action that has been set out to Parliament. By the end of this year, we will have set out the planning that will be necessary to achieve the 2040 ambitions.”
“Through peatland action, our peatland restoration programme, we have restored around 90,000 hectares to date, including 14,860 hectares in 2024-25. This year, we are on track to deliver more than 12,000 hectares of restored peatland. In the draft climate change plan that was published last week, we included a proposal to expand and extend our programme to restore 400,000 hectares by 2040. That reflects an increase in our ambition. Protecting, managing and restoring degraded peatlands is a vital part of mitigating and adapting to the climate and nature emergencies. Ariane Burgess: Eighty per cent of our peatlands—approximately 1.6 million hectares— are degraded. That means that they are one of our largest single sources of emissions. They cannot support nature restoration or provide solutions to issues such as flooding.”
“The First Minister: Obviously, there is a lot of talk about tax at the moment, and there is a lot of uncertainty about the UK Government’s position, which may well have implications for us. The Scottish Government will take the opportunity to consider those issues and will set out in an orderly fashion the approach that we will take on tax, given that we may well have a different tax landscape to consider. That is what the people of Scotland would expect us to do. Peatland Restoration 6.”
“As in the normal course of any budget, we will outline our income tax policy for 2026-27 in the Scottish budget, on 13 January 2026. Rachael Hamilton: I have it here: “Freeze income tax rates and bands, and increase thresholds by a maximum of inflation”. It says it in the manifesto. However, Labour is set to do exactly what John Swinney wants: Rachel Reeves will break her manifesto commitment and raise taxes for hard-working Scots. According to Audit Scotland, the Scottish Government will face a £1 billion shortfall. [Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Let us hear Ms Hamilton. Rachael Hamilton: John Swinney seems set on breaking his promises, too. Can he tell us how much that will cost Scottish taxpayers?”
“Many of those points were made by the credit rating agencies, which indicated that we have in this country a “strong” economy, “prudent financial policies” and budgetary planning with the ability to adjust where necessary in a “timely” manner, and that our “economy is strong, with high GDP per capita in an international comparison.” That demonstrates that, where we are able to exercise self-government, it is successful for Scotland. I want us to be able to exercise more self-government with independence and to pursue the economic opportunities that would be right for an independent”
“Now his Westminster bosses threaten to inflict more than £1 billion of cuts to Scotland’s budget. The cuts would fly in the face of the economic growth that Scotland needs, as outlined in Professor Muscatelli’s report. Does the First Minister share my view that that threat proves, beyond doubt, that decisions on Scotland’s finances should be made here in Scotland, with a fresh start with independence, and not by a Westminster Government that fails Scotland at every turn? The First Minister: I agree with Mr Stewart on the fundamental points.”
“All contributions by Professor Muscatelli are worthy of consideration, and the Scottish Government will consider this one. On the report’s main topic of regional economic structures, I note that we are already committed to increasing regional empowerment and will provide further information on our plans in the coming weeks. We note that Professor Muscatelli also identifies the requirement for a “supportive immigration policy” to contribute to economic growth and the need for the Scottish Government to “influence” the United Kingdom Government’s broken system. We need an immigration system that supports Scotland’s distinct demographic needs, and I urge the UK Government to finally recognise that. Kevin Stewart: It was Anas Sarwar who said: “Read my lips: no austerity under Labour”.”
“We have just managed to negotiate a pay deal for teachers; it has been accepted by teachers, so there will be no disruption due to pay as a consequence of that negotiation by the Scottish Government and local authorities. I want to make progress on class contact time, which is exactly what the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills and I are focused on doing. “Independent Report on Regional Economic Development in Scotland” 4.”
“I cannot instruct Scottish councils to reduce class contact time. I need to do it by agreement, because the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 gives operational responsibility for the running of our schools to councils. Normally, Mr Cole-Hamilton is at the front of the queue to demand that I respect local authorities and local decision making, and here I am doing exactly that. The point that I have made to the Parliament is that the Government reached an agreement with local authorities about reducing class contact time. I have kept my side of the bargain. I want local authorities to keep their side, which is about reducing class contact time. I do not want there to be any disruption to education.”
“Alex Cole-Hamilton: It is a pretty pathetic excuse for the First Minister to pin this on councils, when so many of the same councils are run by his party. Let us get all this straight: the SNP Government is blaming SNP councils for preventing the SNP from keeping SNP election promises. With that kind of contortion, the First Minister must be attending some kind of secret yoga classes. Teachers do not want to strike; they just want the Government to keep its promises. Strike action a couple of years ago caused pupils to miss up to a dozen days of school. It caused havoc for working parents. Will the First Minister give families a cast-iron guarantee today that there will be no strikes in the new year? The First Minister: Mr Cole-Hamilton raises with me the logistics of how these changes are made.”
“I have made it very clear to the president of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities that I am not prepared to tolerate a situation in which we move at the pace of the slowest local authority, which is what the Government is being presented with just now. I will have the opportunity to discuss the issue when I address the COSLA annual conference in St Andrews later today. It is an important issue on which I want to make progress, because I do not want education to be disrupted by industrial action. I do not believe that there is a need for that, because we could be making progress on the issue. There are sufficient teachers in the system to reduce class contact time in the way that Mr Cole-Hamilton puts to me, but it needs progress from our local authority partners, which the Government will insist on.”
“That is an important issue, and I am determined to make progress on it. When we negotiated our budget agreement with local authorities last year, one of its provisions was to make progress on exactly that issue. There were a number of other commitments in the agreement that was reached with local authorities, and various obligations were placed on the Government on financial support for local authorities, to enable there to be no restrictions on council tax and for a variety of other issues. Every single one of the commitments that the Government made has been honoured and fulfilled, but we await progress from local authorities on class contact time.”
“Look at the behaviour and performance of the UK Government over the past 15 months. [Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Let us hear one another. The First Minister: There has been a cut to winter fuel payments for pensioners, no action on the two-child limit, and the chaos of the past few days, in which the Prime Minister’s team has been briefing against his health secretary and Labour Party politicians have been fighting among themselves. The people of Scotland can rely on having, in me, a First Minister who fights for the people of Scotland. I will leave it to the Labour Party and its failed UK Government to fight among themselves. Primary Schools (Class Contact Time) 3.”
“Activity in the national health service has increased, with extra appointments being made available in a whole range of disciplines. Operation numbers are up. A record number of hip and knee operations have been delivered as a consequence of interventions that I have made. In preparation for winter, we have frailty services in A and E departments the length and breadth of the country to ensure that people’s needs are being met. Since I became First Minister, I have focused on ensuring that I strengthen the national health service to meet the needs of the people of Scotland. If anybody is looking around and wondering what a Labour Government in Scotland might be like after the elections in May, they will see the very disappointing spectacle of the United Kingdom Labour Government.”
“Hundreds of thousands are waiting in pain and anxiety on NHS waiting lists. To put it simply, our NHS is not safe in John Swinney’s hands. This is not a winter crisis—it is an SNP crisis, and it is putting lives at risk. Does that disastrous record not show that we must make this winter the last in which the SNP is in charge of our NHS? The First Minister: As I have set out to the Parliament, a whole series of examples of progress has been made in the national health service—not least the fact that the number of new out-patient waits lasting for longer than a year has fallen for four consecutive months. The total numbers on waiting lists for out-patients, in- patients and day cases have decreased, so progress has been made in that respect.”
“I assure Mr Sarwar that the Government’s efforts to increase the number of general practitioners so that we have more access to healthcare, to expand the number of frailty units, and to reduce waiting lists and waiting times are all focused on ensuring that our health service can meet the needs of the people of Scotland. Anas Sarwar: The truth is that every part of our NHS is at breaking point—all because of the Scottish National Party Government. Let us look at John Swinney’s record. On his watch, the NHS is now in permanent crisis. Hundreds more operations have been cancelled this year than were cancelled last year. Thousands more patients are facing unacceptable A and E waits. Ambulances are waiting for hours outside A and E. Thousands of people are being forced to remortgage their homes or to borrow from family in order to go private.”
“In September, there was an even higher increase in the number of operations that were carried out. The throughputs—in other words, the activity levels—in the health service are increasing, which is why we are making headway on reducing the waiting lists and waiting times that people are experiencing. There are enormous pressures on A and E. One issue that I was briefed about on Tuesday by the chief medical officer is the expectation that this winter’s flu season will be particularly challenging for us, due to the prevailing strain of flu that is emerging. Therefore, there will be pressure on our emergency services, which is due to other pressures that are the result of wider health considerations.”
“Let us look at operations: last winter, almost 4,500 operations were cancelled, but, in the months leading into this winter, 8,640 have already been cancelled, which is almost 600 more than in the months leading into winter last year. As I said, every year, the SNP has a new plan, yet, every year, things get worse. John Swinney was supposed to be the guy who steadied the ship and made things better, but it is obvious to everyone that he has failed, is it not? The First Minister: I do not think that this is a great week for Mr Sarwar to talk to me about steadying the ship, given the chaos that I see in the Labour Government in London. Let me reassure Mr Sarwar with the fact that, in the past 12 months, there has been an increase in the number of operations that have been performed in Scotland.”
“Other interventions include the hospital at home service, and the support that has been put in place through the strong local government settlement that we provided this year to strengthen health and social care partnerships and ensure that more and more people can be supported at home rather than in hospital. Anas Sarwar: The level of delayed discharge is almost exactly the same as last year, which demonstrates that there has been no progress. Every year, the SNP has a new plan, yet, every year, things get worse. Let us look at two other measures: A and E, and cancelled operations. Last winter, more than 90,000 patients waited for more than four hours in A and E; that figure is well over 4,000 higher than the winter before. However, the A and E performance statistics going into this winter are worse than those for last year.”
“Over the course of the past year, the Government has focused on doing a number of things to reduce pressure in our NHS system. That is why long waits and waiting lists are now coming down. The point that Mr Sarwar raises is about the flow of patients through our health and social care system, which I accept is the critical issue. That is why every NHS board now has frailty services in accident and emergency departments, which help with older and more vulnerable patients in particular. The average length of stay for patients is being reduced as a consequence of the introduction of frailty services. That is one thing that has changed materially. In addition, our efforts aim to reduce pressure on the health service through reducing waiting lists to ensure that we have adequate measures in place.”
“The First Minister: Mr Findlay is not setting out properly the effect of the amendment that his colleague Liam Kerr lodged to the Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill, because all that that amendment would have required was the victims and witnesses commissioner, who has not yet been appointed, to undertake a report to consider whether any further action was required in that respect. Therefore, that is not something that could happen today. The commissioner would have to first be appointed and then consider whether it was appropriate to take any action, so it is a complete and utter distortion to say that there was a grooming gangs inquiry proposal in front of the Parliament that was not supported—[Interruption.]”
“However, victims such as Taylor are concerned because the same authorities that failed them sit on that Government group, and they fear that it is little more than another Scottish National Party talking shop. In July, the group discussed Baroness Casey’s report on grooming gangs elsewhere in the United Kingdom. The minutes of that meeting state: “there is no current evidence that the issues identified in Casey are presenting in the same way in Scotland”. In the light of the available evidence, that claim is patently untrue. Does John Swinney agree that grooming gangs are a problem in Scotland, not just elsewhere?”
“I assure Mr Findlay of our determination to carry out all that activity. As I said to Mr Whitfield last week, we are also determined to work collaboratively to ensure that a legislative approach is in place that uses the powers of the United Kingdom—powers that the Scottish Parliament does not have—to tackle the culture of online abuse, which is attacking the very fabric of childhood in Scotland today as a consequence of the lawlessness that is perpetrated by online agencies. Russell Findlay: The First Minister talks about his parliamentary record. That record shows that, just weeks ago, he voted against my party’s attempts to instigate a grooming gangs inquiry in Scotland. In a previous answer, the First Minister said that the national child sexual abuse and exploitation strategic group is looking at these issues.”
“The Scottish child abuse inquiry was sponsored under my leadership as education secretary and as Deputy First Minister for many years, and it does vital work in making sure that the voices of victims are heard loud and clear in our society. On the question of online child abuse, I was clear in my answer to Martin Whitfield last week in the Parliament that I want to make sure that every step that the Government and other authorities in Scotland can take to tackle online child abuse is taken. The efforts that have been made at the Gartcosh crime campus, under the auspices of Police Scotland, have been lauded around the world as an example of integrated proceedings involving multiple agencies. We aim to ensure that organised crime networks in Scotland are shattered as a consequence of our efforts.”
“The number of reports of online child sexual abuse made to Police Scotland has more than doubled in the past year alone. How can John Swinney hope to stop child abuse now, when he will not support a full and fearless investigation into the industrial-scale abuse of recent years? The First Minister: First, nothing that I am saying is about shifting the blame—I say that respectfully to the Parliament. I am simply putting on the record factual information that Police Scotland has provided to me. My parliamentary record demonstrates that I am prepared to ensure that significant efforts are made to address abusive conduct in our society.”
“I hope that that gives victims of such crimes confidence that, if they come forward, their concerns will be properly and fully investigated by Police Scotland, which would be my expectation as First Minister. Russell Findlay: Any attempt to shift the blame on to victims for how and when such crimes are reported is highly questionable. Taylor was a child. The authorities knew about the crimes at the time, on the basis of social work reports. Of course, grooming gangs are not confined to any one community. Earlier this year, a group of white men and women were jailed for the horrific abuse of children in Glasgow. Last month, a Romanian gang was convicted of abusing 10 young women in Dundee. This is not a historical problem; it is happening today.”
“The complainer was advised she should make a report to police if she had been a victim of a crime. The complainer confirmed she was happy to have the complaint closed with this advice.” I put that on the record simply to say that it is vital that anybody who believes that they have been the victim of a sexual crime comes forward to the police and makes a complaint. My expectation as First Minister is that such a complaint would be taken deadly seriously by the police and would be investigated. On the question of trust in how such matters are handled, we have seen examples of extensive prosecutions for sexual misconduct and childhood sexual abuse in Scotland. A range of prosecutions have been successfully taken forward by the police and the Crown, which are determined to address the very serious issues that Mr Findlay puts to me.”
“She said that, as far back as 2014, police in West Yorkshire were “well aware of links to Scotland, but clearly no one bothered to investigate further.” Victims do not trust that what happened to them will be fully investigated by organisations that they believe turned a blind eye or even engaged in a cover-up. Has John Swinney spoken to Police Scotland about those new allegations, and does he believe that the actions of the authorities should be independently examined? The First Minister: In relation to Taylor’s case, Police Scotland has said: “A complaint about the police was received in September 2025. The complainer was spoken to and we confirmed information had been passed to us, but since no report was made to police in reference to any crime, this complaint did not fit the criteria as a complaint about the police.”
“The Government has remained open to the question of a grooming gangs inquiry, but a series of steps is being taken to explore those issues at the moment. It is vital that any accusation of criminal conduct is drawn to the attention of the police, as Police Scotland has a duty to address such complaints by making inquiries. Russell Findlay: Taylor’s social work files allegedly show that Police Scotland failed to investigate. She said: “It made me feel sick to my stomach. It’s like they didn’t even bother to ask any questions. That’s the bit that gets me the most, because it could have been stopped, and it never was.” Another grooming gang victim, Fiona Goddard, was trafficked from England to Glasgow and was raped by groups of men.”
“First, I confirm to Russell Findlay that I have received the letter from Taylor. I express to the Parliament my admiration of her courage to speak out on such an important and very difficult subject. I am deeply saddened to hear of any cases of sexual abuse. As the Parliament knows, I have taken significant action during my term in office as a minister to ensure that the issue has been addressed. The Government is undertaking work already through the national child sexual abuse and exploitation strategic group, which is looking at previous inquiries, evidence and practices to establish what further actions and recommendations are required. Police Scotland is actively reviewing current and historical child abuse investigations to determine what issues would need to be addressed in any potential inquiry.”
“The Scottish Government is in dialogue with the United Kingdom Government about the bill. In principle, we support it. We obviously have to go through the process of consideration around legislative consent, which the Scottish Government will do in a timeous fashion, and Parliament will of course be engaged in that consideration. It is important that the principles and values that are enshrined in the bill are taken forward. Asylum Seeker Housing (Cameron Barracks)”
“That, along with maternity issues, was the subject of discussion with the health service leadership, and that will continue to be my focus. Energy Prices (Sizewell C Nuclear Plant)”
“The action that I take is the action that I take every single week, which is that I meet the leadership of the national health service to press for the strongest possible performance in our national health service. As I explained to Mr Sarwar a moment ago, the fruits of that activity are that we now see falling waiting lists, a reduction in long waits and more people being treated in our national health service. That will be the focus of my attention. On Tuesday, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and I met the chief executives of all the national health service boards around the country to reiterate the importance of timely attention to scheduled and unscheduled care. It is unscheduled care that Pam Duncan-Glancy raises with me.”
“If Mr Carson wants to furnish me with the details of the specific case, I will examine it, because waiting that length of time for a call to be answered sounds completely unacceptable to me. I will look at the case, if Mr Carson gives me the details. The median response time for purple calls is 7 minutes and 51 seconds. The Scottish Ambulance Service will work extremely hard to ensure that it meets the public’s expectations. Accident and Emergency Wait Times (Glasgow)”
“There has to be a careful reassessment of the energy profits levy, and I encourage the UK Government to do that. Ambulance Response Times (Galloway)”
“As I recounted in my answers to Mr Greer, a significant economic challenge is coming to individuals who are employed in the North Sea oil and gas sector, which is why the issues that Audrey Nicoll raises are so serious. There is an opportunity for us to build the renewable industries and clean energies of the future, and the Scottish Government is taking that forward. However, we have to ensure that that activity is aligned with activities in relation to the oil and gas sector. The energy profits levy, which has been a key part of UK Government interventions, was always supposed to be a temporary measure. Anyone looking at the performance of the levy could demonstrate that there are significant issues with its performance in relation to the UK’s public finances that are also having an effect on employment in the oil and gas sector.”
“I assure Mr Whitfield that we will take all the actions that we can, but we also need to take the toughest stance on social media companies, because there is lawlessness out there online. That lawlessness is damaging our children and must be arrested. Jobs Cuts (North-East)”
“I assure Mr Whitfield of my Government’s determination to work with all relevant partners—including Mary Glasgow, whom I met yesterday and who is a fantastic individual and advocate on behalf of children—to do everything in our powers to address the situation. However—I do not make this point in any way pejoratively; I make it deadly seriously—the regulation of social media companies is the preserve of the United Kingdom Government and Ofcom. I will be the most trenchant supporter of the toughest measures that the UK Government puts in place to regulate those individuals and organisations. The UK Government is taking steps in the Online Safety Act 2023, but we will be prepared to work with the UK Government to maximise the effectiveness of those measures.”
“I acknowledge the seriousness of the point raised with me by Martin Whitfield and the comments made by the chief constable. Police Scotland has adapted and changed its presence and the composition of its staff to ensure that it has more capability to interrupt the networks that Mr Whitfield raises with us. I pay tribute to Police Scotland in that respect. The child sexual abuse and exploitation national strategic group, which comprises operational partners including Police Scotland, is taking forward a series of priorities and actions to prevent and disrupt child sexual abuse and provide support to victims and their families.”
“Let me just say to Mr Hoy that it is a bit rich for him to come to this Parliament asking for more money for local government when he is not even prepared to vote for the money that we have put in place. That is yet more hypocrisy from the Conservatives. Online”
“The local government settlement provides record funding of more than £15.1 billion, which is an increase of more than £1 billion, or 5.5 per cent in real terms, compared with the figure for 2024-25. Local authorities have to look at all the choices they have and at the issues that affect the delivery of public services, and that is exactly what Dumfries and Galloway Council will do. The administration in Dumfries and Galloway is led by my party, and I am very proud of the work of my party leadership in Dumfries and Galloway. It has taken over from the Conservatives, and everyone who takes over from the Conservatives has to clean up the mess that the Conservatives leave behind them.”
“However, the key point that Mr Gibson raised is that the Labour Government in the UK is bypassing democratic procedures in Scotland. It is another example of how the Labour Government in the UK is determined to undermine the Scottish Parliament, and people in Scotland need to wake up to the threat from the UK Labour Government. Dumfries and Galloway Council (Budget)”