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 begin by congratulating you on your election, Presiding Officer. As we begin this new session of the Scottish Parliament, I stand before members with a clear mandate from the people of Scotland to seek nomination as the First Minister. The election is over, the people have spoken and they have emphatically supported the Scottish National Party. I offer to form a Government to deliver on behalf of the people we all serve—not cautiously, not hesitantly, but with purpose—on the issues that matter most in the lives of our people. That is exactly what a Government that I lead will do. The challenges that face our nation are real. Families continue to feel the pressure of the cost of living, and public services continue to face significant demands.”
“Before I take my oath, let me pledge that the primary loyalty of the Scottish National Party is to the people of Scotland, in line with the constitutional principle of the sovereignty of the people. I, John Ramsay Swinney, do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law. So help me”
“To those who are engaged in the election campaign—of whom I shall, no doubt, be seeing quite a lot in the next few weeks—I say that I look forward to engagement in the democratic process and returning to serve the people of Scotland in the years to come. The Deputy Presiding Officer: First Minister, could I possibly ask you to move the motion? [Laughter.] The First Minister: I move, That the Parliament expresses its thanks to its Presiding Officer, Alison Johnstone, for her dedicated service to the Parliament; thanks her Deputy Presiding Officers, and pays tribute to all of those Members who are standing down at the end of this session. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call Russell Findlay. 16:30”
“I thank the cleaning team, who keep the Parliament looking at its best; the catering staff, who keep us fed and watered; and the communications team, the participation and communities team and the public engagement team, who support Parliament’s engagement with members of the public. I also thank the chief executive, David McGill, and his team for the stewardship of our parliamentary business. We could not and would not be here without their support. For that, I am truly thankful, and I know that members of Parliament will echo those words. [Applause.] As we embark on the election campaign, to all who are not returning I express my warmest wishes for the future.”
“In drawing my remarks to a close, I would like to express my thanks, and the thanks of my party and the Government, to the supportive members of staff in the Scottish Parliament, no matter where they work, because we could not operate as members of Parliament without their assistance. I thank those in security who greet us when we arrive, the clerks, the official report, the Scottish Parliament information centre, the broadcasting service, the British Sign Language service and the business information technology staff, who are, frankly, run off their feet attending to members who consistently cannot access the mobile voting app—without them, we would not be able to carry out our democratic functions.”
“Although we thank those people for their service as members of the Scottish Parliament, we are all conscious that we carry out our responsibilities with the support of our staff teams, who assist us in every way. I take this opportunity to express a very personal and sincere thank you to my private office and the wider staff in the Scottish Government who support ministers so well, to my team of special advisers and to my constituency staff, without whom I could not undertake my responsibilities as First Minister. All members are aware of the tremendous service that is given by those who support us in our constituencies, who address the needs and priorities of the members of the public we serve. I express today, on behalf of Parliament, our thanks to all those who support us in our constituency work.”
“I pay tribute to Sarah Boyack, who also served as a minister as part of her long-standing service; to Rhoda Grant; and to the incredibly formidable mother of the Parliament, Christine Grahame. At the weekend, my mother- in-law asked me what would happen to her collection of visible brooches on parliamentary occasions, and I told her that I thought they would be safe in Christine Grahame’s hands forever. We also acknowledge that two former party leaders—Richard Leonard and Douglas Ross— are stepping down at this election. Personally, I will miss enormously my fellow local representatives in the Mid Scotland and Fife area, Liz Smith and Alex Rowley. To all those stepping down, I express my warmest wishes for all that lies ahead.”
“We say farewell to people who have served in the Government, at my side, for many years, and I pay particular tribute to those who have served Scotland so well: former First Ministers Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf; my Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes; current cabinet secretaries Shona Robison, Fiona Hyslop and Mairi Gougeon; current ministers Graeme Dey, Natalie Don-Innes and Richard Lochhead; and former ministers Joe FitzPatrick, Michael Matheson, Kevin Stewart and Elena Whitham. I also make mention of Christina McKelvie, who, before her sad death last year, had announced her intention to stand down at the forthcoming election. It has been my enormous privilege to work alongside each and every one of my colleagues, and I thank all of them for their service. Eight of the members who are stepping down were first elected in 1999.”
“While Liam McArthur is seeking re-election to Parliament, the Presiding Officer and you, Deputy Presiding Officer, are two of the 42 MSPs who have chosen not to stand for re-election. So, on behalf of all members of Parliament and the people of Scotland, I express my warmest thanks to the Presiding Officer and to the Deputy Presiding Officers for the outstanding service that you have given to Scotland in the sixth session of the Scottish Parliament. Among the many members who are standing down at this election, some are long-standing members and some have been here for a shorter period, but I know that all have sought to serve their constituents well, and I thank all those who have dedicated themselves to public service.”
“As this sixth session of the Scottish Parliament comes to a close, I extend my thanks to the Presiding Officer and the Deputy Presiding Officers for the service that each of them has given to the Parliament over the past five years. The Presiding Officers have always managed their roles with principle, professionalism, pragmatism and, importantly—the Deputy Presiding Officer has just mentioned this— impartiality. It has been a demanding parliamentary session with a significant legislative workload, in which major issues have required scrutiny, and the Presiding Officers have undertaken so much impressive work in promoting all that work to the communities of Scotland. In all those roles, the Presiding Officers have acted effectively in undertaking their responsibilities.”
“What we have here is a perfect storm for the people of Scotland, whereby decisions that are for the UK Government to take are having a damaging effect on Scotland, whether in relation to oil and gas or renewables. The answer is to take Scotland’s future and Scotland’s energy into Scotland’s hands, and we will be able to do that only with the fresh start of independence. The Presiding Officer: That concludes First Minister’s question time. The next item of business will be a members’ business debate on a motion in the name of Pam Gosal. We will have a short suspension to allow those who are leaving the chamber and the gallery to do so. 12:51 Meeting suspended. 12:52 On resuming— Mobile Phone Use in Schools (Ban)”
“I recognise the seriousness and the significance of the issue that Mr Ewing raises, which is being decided on by the UK Government. The fact that the UK Government has not come to a decision for some considerable time is causing no end of frustration. Like Mr Ewing, I am hearing all sorts of rumours about the decision. As things stand, I have no clarity on what decision the UK Government has come to, but I assure Mr Ewing that very, very vigorous representations have been made to the UK Government on the decision, which is central to our renewables future. I have previously raised in Parliament the fact that the lack of a decision by the UK Government is slowing down the upsurge in renewables activity at the same time as the UK Government is penalising the North Sea oil and gas sector through the energy profits levy.”
“The purpose of the investment that the Government has made in the summer of sport is to ensure that exactly what Mr Whittle has set out can be realised as a consequence. The summer of sport is designed to engage communities the length and breadth of the country, to give individuals an appetite for sport and to achieve the benefits of physical exercise, which Mr Whittle has championed. On Tuesday, the Cabinet considered other important issues in relation to the degree to which young people are using phone technology and whether exercise and engagement in sporting activity could be alternative choices. Many issues have to be addressed in that respect, but the investment in the summer of sport will certainly help to achieve the objectives that Mr Whittle has raised with me. Ming Yang (Investment)”
“I will certainly give consideration to whether a phased approach would be practical. I understand that different proposals are at different stages, so we can certainly consider the issue that Annabelle Ewing has raised and has championed on behalf of her constituents. As Annabelle Ewing prepares to step down from the Parliament at the forthcoming election, I pay tribute to her public service and to her commitment to her constituents in Cowdenbeath, which she has exercised on many issues, but especially on this issue, for many years. Summer of Sport (Impact on Health and Wellbeing)”
“I have every sympathy with the issue that Mr Sweeney has raised, but such matters are properly for Glasgow City Council and its arm’s-length organisations to determine. The Parliament often wrestles with the issue of where decisions should be made, and such decisions are properly for Glasgow City Council to make. I point out that, in recent days, the Scottish Government has put in place financial support to ensure the completion of the Citizens Theatre refurbishment for the people of Glasgow. The Scottish Government is delivering £3.5 million of extra funding right into the heart of Glasgow, in addition to the other investments that we are making in the city to strengthen its cultural identity. The Government will continue to do that when it has the power and responsibility to do so. Lochgelly”
“I will tell Mr Eagle what is uninspiring: the implications of Brexit, which his Government forced upon the people of this country. Agricultural support has been undermined by the Conservative Government’s actions in negotiating the Brexit that it put in place.”
“The Government has taken a number of steps to support renters through the Housing (Scotland) Act 2025, but we are also setting out proposals to provide up to £10,000 towards a deposit to give people the help that they need in order to buy their first home. I have heard from many young people who feel unable to get the necessary resources together for a deposit, but they can rely on a re- elected SNP Government to deliver exactly that for them. Rural”
“Every effort is made to ensure that the CalMac Ferries network can meet the needs of all island communities, and there will be local dialogue about the delivery of individual services. New vessels are joining the fleet—the MV Isle of Islay is about to enter service, which will assist in improving capacity. Refits are on-going for vessels that are going through their contracted annual maintenance, but there will be active dialogue to ensure that ferry communities have the services and support that they require. Renters and First-time Buyers (Support)”
“I am delighted to welcome those developments, which have come about as a result of a tenacious campaign by the Pearson family on behalf of their daughter Grayce, supported by Bob Doris, who has been an enthusiastic champion of that objective. The screening programme is an essential part of ensuring the health and wellbeing of children. The Government will explore and examine opportunities to enhance the screening programme, and we will take that work forward should we have the privilege of being returned to office after the election in May. Ferry Services (South Uist and Barra)”
“I recognise the importance to people in the south-west of Scotland of the facility at the Citadel leisure centre. As Sharon Dowey makes clear, it is a matter for South Ayrshire Council. Obviously, through the investments that we are making in the budget, the Government is providing support for greater access to swimming lessons in our facilities around the country. The issue that the member raises is a particularly specialist area. I will ask officials to explore what opportunities there are for co- operation but, fundamentally, it remains a matter for South Ayrshire Council. Spinal Muscular”
“On Mr Greene’s point about the aspirations of politicians to come into the Parliament, let me speak something out loud, because I know that everyone is talking about it today. The homophobic joke—well, alleged joke—by Malcolm Offord, the leader of Reform in Scotland, is a warning to this country of what is coming our way. There is no place for homophobia, racism and intolerance. That is what Reform represents, and we all have to stand up against that bile in our society. The Presiding Officer: We move to constituency and general supplementaries. Diving Facilities (Ayr)”
“He has made an important contribution in shaping many of the reforms that have enhanced the rights of individuals in our society—he should be proud of what he has contributed to this Parliament. I associate myself entirely with the substance of Mr Greene’s question and the appeal that he makes, and I commit myself to exercising leadership in that way. That is the way that I exercise leadership—with respect to other people in our society and respecting the rights of every single person in our society. I am horrified by some of the behaviour and by the racial intolerance and hatred towards other people that are now expressed publicly in our society. In my constituency, there are people who stand outside a hotel that accommodates asylum seekers and who have banners with language that is hate filled—it is appalling.”
“I challenge not just the First Minister but the leaders of all the political parties that hope to return members to this place to commit their parties in the next parliamentary session to using their privilege of platform wisely, to debating with decency and to remembering that the language that is used in here affects people out there. I hope that we can do politics better, and that we can all agree that hatred will never, ever have a place in this Parliament. The First Minister: I associate myself entirely with Jamie Greene’s comments. Jamie Greene has made a distinguished contribution to this Parliament over the 10 years that he has been here, and I wish him well for all that lies ahead for him.”
“In asking what is potentially my final question, I wish all members across the chamber the very best in the future. The reality is that, in recent times, we have seen a rise in antisemitic abuse and far-right protests. There are people who aspire to become members of the Scottish Parliament who are spouting Islamophobic bile on social media and cracking jokes at the expense of gay people. When I joined this place a decade ago, there was genuine desire to find common ground on some difficult societal issues on Gypsy Travellers, migrants, refugees and transgender people— people who are our friends, our neighbours and our fellow Scots. Ten years on, I am utterly saddened to hear politicians use language that reduces people to adjectives such as “dangerous”, “unwanted” and “unwelcome”.”
“I strongly condemn rhetoric that seeks to vilify or dehumanise minority groups. Scotland has a proud history of welcoming people of all nationalities and faiths, including those seeking refuge and asylum from war and persecution. We all share responsibility to uphold that legacy, and there is no place for division that harms communities. My Government has strengthened protections for communities facing division and harm, showing the impact that collective action can deliver. As elected representatives, we must lead by example, ensuring that political discourse is grounded in respect and constructive dialogue. That is how most people conduct themselves and what they expect from those in public office. We all have a duty to uphold human rights and challenge discrimination in all its forms. Jamie Greene: I associate myself with those words.”
“Much of the focus is on ensuring that Polmont is better able to support young people and assist in providing opportunities for the necessary exercise and engagement. Those steps are in place, and that is what the ministerial accountability board has examined. I assure Pauline McNeill that that will remain the focus of the”
“The Government clearly regrets that that has happened. There has been a very strong focus on the issue in Government, led by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs through the ministerial accountability board, in the light of the fatal accident inquiry that took place in relation to Polmont. A whole series of interventions and actions have taken place, some of which I recounted in my earlier answer. I assure Pauline McNeill that those steps have been taken. They have been the subject of analysis and assessment by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons. The inspection on which the report is based was carried out in August of last year, and a great deal more has happened as a consequence.”
“In fact, His Majesty’s chief inspector of prisons for Scotland, Sara Snell, said: “Young men in Polmont continue to spend far too long locked in their cells”. Why has there not already been a complete shake- up of how we detain young offenders? Surely, in the last days of this current Scottish Government, it is time to admit failure on the issue. Perhaps the First Minister and I could agree that Scotland must implement a new daily structure in the Polmont young offenders institution—one in which, at the very least, adequate and productive time out of a prison cell is at the heart of the system. The First Minister: First, I record my sadness at the death of Daniel Kerr, which Pauline McNeill referred to. It is a tragedy, and I extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Daniel Kerr.”
“Pauline McNeill: It is extremely sad that yet another inspection at Polmont young offenders institution has told us that there are deep-rooted problems in keeping young offenders safe. The tragic suicide of 19-year-old Daniel Kerr two weeks ago illustrates again that the state is failing to keep those young people safe—and that comes after the findings of the inquiry into the deaths of William Brown and Katie Allan. This week, Professor Sarah Armstrong pointed out in an interview that the issue is not just about resources. However, despite the professionalism and dedication of our prison staff, the system still operates in a way that is completely contrary to the obvious needs of a young person who struggles when they are detained and does not have adequate time out of their cell.”
“I welcome the report and have noted the continued improvements that the Scottish Prison Service has made since the inspection was carried out last August, as set out in the post-inspection update. I also fully understand that, although much progress has been made, there remains much more to do, and the Scottish Government and the Scottish Prison Service are fully committed to continued improvement. The Scottish Prison Service has increased its staffing levels and is providing enhanced support to young people. It is also taking action to increase the time that is spent out of cells through providing new purpose-built outdoor space for young people and reviewed opportunities for activities.”
“The Government’s expectation is that such reporting should be undertaken by health boards.”
“That is utterly unacceptable. We know that those findings are just the tip of the iceberg, with most cases not being reported and victims being left to suffer in silence under the Scottish National Party. Will the First Minister confirm whether his Government will finally mandate consistent and transparent recording of sexual offences in national health service facilities and publish annual figures so that there can be accountability? The First Minister: Any form of abuse of that nature is completely abhorrent. I expect health boards to work closely with Police Scotland and to uphold their legal duties as employers to keep staff, patients and visitors safe. Health boards have a legal duty and reporting systems in place to record data on sexual assault, violence and aggression.”
“I am horrified by any suggestion that children have been assaulted while in hospital. I expect health boards to work closely with Police Scotland to keep patients, particularly children, safe. The national guidance for child protection in Scotland makes it clear that all concerns that a child has been abused or is at risk of abuse must be reported to the police or social work. I have asked the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care to write to all health boards to express our clear concerns and to ask what has been done to support the safeguarding of children and young people while in their care. Pam Gosal: Hospitals should be a safe space for everyone, but new findings from Women’s Rights Network Scotland reveal the grim reality that patients, including children, have been sexually assaulted in Scottish hospitals.”
“The First Minister: I am happy to give that confirmation and make that commitment to Joe FitzPatrick and to make it clear that the Government is absolutely committed to equality, to advancing the rights of the LGBTQI+ community and to ending harmful and abusive conversion practices in Scotland. Given that this is Joe FitzPatrick’s last contribution in the Parliament after his 19 years of service, it is appropriate that it is on this topic, in respect of which he has given impressive leadership in advancing the rights of individuals in our society and has been a champion of equality. I pay a warm tribute to my friend and colleague Joe FitzPatrick as he stands down from the Parliament today. Children (Assaults in Hospitals) 5.”
“Scotland has made great strides towards equality under the SNP, but those practices remain a stain on our country. Conversion practices should be banned as quickly as possible. I am grateful that my final contribution in our national Parliament, after representing the people of Dundee for 19 years, is on this matter, which is very important to me and to the entire LGBTQ+ community. I am confident that the First Minister shares my views, but I would be grateful for his absolute commitment that, if he is returned to government, banning conversion practices will form part of his first programme for government.”
“Conversion practices cause lasting harm and have no place in Scotland. The Scottish National Party Government is clear that we will end this abhorrent practice and ensure that everyone can live free from abuse. We have publicly consulted on proposals for Scottish legislation and are supporting victims and survivors with a dedicated helpline that offers counselling support. We continue to engage with the United Kingdom Government to explore UK- wide legislation. However, I am clear that, if the UK Government is unable to introduce a fully inclusive ban, we will publish our own bill in year 1 of the next parliamentary session, should the people of Scotland re-elect my Government. Joe FitzPatrick: Conversion practices are abhorrent.”
“The First Minister: I am very pleased that the Government that I lead is able to afford a balanced budget that puts the money in place to deliver on our policy priorities. As a consequence, I am very proud that, because of the steps taken by this Government, child poverty in Scotland is falling. It is 9 per cent below the levels in the rest of the United Kingdom, and that is because of the leadership of an SNP Government. Conversion Practices (Ban) 4.”
“On top of that, we established Scotland’s first nature restoration fund, we brought in the emergency rent freeze and we wiped out school meal debts for thousands of struggling families. Green MSPs have delivered changes that have saved families a fortune and protected our planet. We know that the solutions to the climate crisis and the cost of living crisis are one and the same. We were proud to work with the First Minister and the Scottish National Party to deliver those changes, because Greens believe in co-operating to take Scotland forward. However, those ideas were all put on the table by Green MSPs in the first place. We brought forward bold, progressive ideas and we worked to deliver them. What is the First Minister’s favourite of the changes that the Greens have delivered in this Parliament?”
“All those steps are very welcome, but the Government has also put in place a £2 bus fare cap, which is being taken forward in the Highlands and Islands to determine how it can operate. We have abolished peak rail fares and we have frozen rail fares so that more people can use public transport. Those are some of the measures that the Scottish Government is taking to make sure that people are able to access public transport and have a much greater choice when doing so. Ross Greer: I am glad that the First Minister has mentioned the £2 bus fare cap across the Highlands and Islands and the scrapping of peak rail fares. Those were also policies that were proposed by Green MSPs in budget negotiations. We are proud to have provided those ideas, which have saved families a fortune and are helping to tackle the climate crisis.”
“If it knew how to fix the problems in our NHS, our schools and more, it would have done it by now. That is why Scotland needs change and a new Government that will fix the SNP’s mess, get the basics right and build a better future for our country,”
“That is a Government acting to address the issues that are faced by people in Scotland and ensuring that we deliver better opportunities and better prospects for the people of our country. Anas Sarwar: What Scots will hear from that is that John Swinney thinks that 10,000 homeless children is a measure of the Government’s success, rather than a measure of its failure. I started my public service as a national health service dentist, and fixing our NHS is personal to me. The SNP promised an NHS recovery but failed. At the election in 2021, 549,000 Scots were on an NHS waiting list. The figure is now 786,000. In 2021, around 1,200 Scots were waiting more than two years for treatment. Today, that figure is—shamefully—almost 6,400. The SNP has had 20 years in power.”
“Will John Swinney be honest and accept that that is not a record of success but a record of failure that he should be apologising for? The First Minister: The Government has to wrestle with a whole number of different challenges. Since 2021, we have had to wrestle with the significant levels of inflation that have arisen as a consequence of the invasion of Ukraine and all that flowed from that. Despite that, the Scottish Government is building more houses per head of population than are being built in any other part of the United Kingdom, so as to provide action on homelessness. The Government has taken action to invest more than £120 million in the past two years on ensuring that void accommodation is put back into use, so that thousands of families can get back into accommodation as a consequence of our actions.”
“Let us not forget that John Swinney was the education secretary who marked down working-class kids during the pandemic. When he did that, he told teachers that he did not trust their judgment and young people that he did not believe in their ability. However, it is not just in the classrooms that he is failing our young people. The number of homeless children in 2021 was 7,500. Today, the figure stands at more than 10,000—there are 10,000 children without a home to call their own on the SNP’s watch. There are starker and more serious failures, too. The number of Scots who are sleeping rough on our streets has increased by 66 per cent since 2021, and almost 5,000 of our fellow Scots have lost their lives since 2021 to a drug deaths crisis that the SNP said was a national emergency.”
“In the course of the Government’s term of office, we have taken steps to improve the lives of people in Scotland, whether that is in delivering a stronger economy, which has been delivered against the tides of austerity and the inflation surge in 2022, or in the health service, where waiting times have come down for eight months in a row as a consequence of the Government’s actions. In education, levels of attainment in our schools are rising and the poverty-related attainment gap is narrowing. The SNP Government is delivering on the priorities of the people of Scotland. We are determined to serve the people of Scotland, and we are determined to improve the lives of the people of Scotland. Anas Sarwar: I just read out the facts in the record of failure.”
“I defend the interests of the people of Scotland every day of my being. Having listened to Russell Findlay’s poorest hits over the course of the past minute or so, I am left wondering why the Conservatives are going to get decimated at the forthcoming election. Russell Findlay: I have plenty more to come on the SNP’s greatest hits. John Swinney spends so much time on the moral high ground that it is a miracle that the man does not suffer from altitude sickness. The truth is that this jaded career politician—[Interruption.]”
“Reimbursement of Members’ Expenses Scheme and Party Leaders’ Expenses Scheme”
“Presiding Officer, your leadership of the bill that we have wrestled with over the past week has been, as Nicola Sturgeon said, a demonstration that it is possible for us to have courteous and respectful debate as we wrestle with big questions. There can be no bigger question than that of making sure that the future of young people in our country is the best that it possibly can be. If I am fortunate enough to lead a Government, I will work with others to make sure that we fulfil that promise. [Applause.] The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, First Minister. I have exercised a degree of latitude in allowing participation from the public gallery, but we will draw a diplomatic veil over that now. That concludes the debate on the Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill at stage 3.”
“I say openly to the Parliament, to the country, to care- experienced young people in Scotland, and to Nicola Sturgeon, who did so much to pave the way to enhance the lives of care-experienced young people, that if I am fortunate enough to be elected as the First Minister of Scotland and have the privilege of continuing that work, I will do my all to deliver the Promise. We entered into this commitment to improve the lives of care- experienced young people in Scotland and to keep the Promise, which is what I pledge to do if I am elected as First Minister. I also pledge to work in the way that Nicola Sturgeon did, which is also, if I may say so, what Liz Smith referred to in her speech to the Parliament the other day, when she spoke about our collective endeavour.”
“She has much to be proud of and she steps down from the Parliament with my heartfelt thanks for all that she has done for Scotland and with my warmest wishes for all that lies ahead. [Applause.] Presiding Officer, you have been very generous in your allocation of time to me. I will not speak for much longer, but there is one more important thing that I need to say to the Parliament. As we all are, I am about to embark on an election campaign. Although it will not be a universally popular concept around the Parliament, I intend to work very hard to try to be a First Minister that returns to the Parliament after the election on 7 May.”
“As she is the First Minister who made the Promise, I know that Nicola Sturgeon feels a particular responsibility to see that it is fully honoured, and that is a responsibility that she has discharged in the way that she has engaged with the bill. I know that the responsibility that she feels to care-experienced children—to ensure that everyone grows up feeling loved, safe and respected—will not end when she leaves this Parliament. In looking forward to her continuing contribution to this effort, I want to express, as First Minister, on behalf of the people of Scotland, my warmest thanks to Nicola Sturgeon for the immense public service that she has given to Scotland as a member of the Scottish Parliament, as the Deputy First Minister, and as the longest- serving and first female First Minister of Scotland.”