Neil Bibby
Scottish Labour · Scotland
“Thanks to Scottish National Party cuts, health and social care partnerships across Scotland face a £0.5 billion gap in their budgets this year.”
“The Presiding Officer: That concludes decision time. Meeting closed at 17:20. This is a draft Official Report and is subject to correction between publication and archiving, which will take place no later than 35 working days after the date of the meeting.”
“Amendment disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: I remind members that, if the amendment in the name of Craig Hoy is agreed to, the amendment in the name of Willie Rennie will fall.”
“Published in Edinburgh by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP All documents are available on the Scottish Parliament website at: www.parliament.scot Information on non-endorsed print suppliers is available here: www.parliament.scot/documents For information on the Scottish Parliament con…”
“Amendment disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: The next question is, that amendment S7M-00249.5, in the name of Willie Rennie, which seeks to amend motion S7M- 00249, in the name of Jenny Gilruth, on wealth taxation for public services, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“Amendment disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: The final question is, that motion S7M-00249, in the name of Jenny Gilruth, on wealth taxation for public services, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
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“Thanks to Scottish National Party cuts, health and social care partnerships across Scotland face a £0.5 billion gap in their budgets this year. In Renfrewshire, if nothing changes, the disability resource centre in Paisley will close, the autism connections programme will be cut back and day centres for adults with learning disabilities will be merged. Those are vital services, and Friday is decision day. What are my vulnerable neighbours and their families meant to do if the cuts go ahead?”
“Published in Edinburgh by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body, the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP All documents are available on the Scottish Parliament website at: www.parliament.scot Information on non-endorsed print suppliers is available here: www.parliament.scot/documents For information on the Scottish Parliament contact Public Information on: Telephone: 0131 348 5000 Textphone: 0800 092 7100 Email: sp.info@parliament.scot”
“The Presiding Officer: That concludes decision time. Meeting closed at 17:20. This is a draft Official Report and is subject to correction between publication and archiving, which will take place no later than 35 working days after the date of the meeting. The most up-to-date version is available here: https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report Members and other meeting participants who wish to suggest corrections to their contributions should contact the Official Report. Official Report Email: official.report@parliament.scot Room T2.20 Telephone: 0131 348 5447 Scottish Parliament Edinburgh EH99 1SP The deadline for corrections to this edition is 20 working days after the date of publication.”
“Motion, as amended, agreed to, That the Parliament believes in fair, progressive and sustainable taxation to support the delivery of public services; welcomes the progress made towards the creation of a private jet tax and a mansion tax; supports actions to go further and seek the powers necessary to take action on so-called ghost flights of private planes; recognises that Scotland's current powers limit the scope for additional wealth taxation; endorses the Scottish Government's plans to explore what further steps could be taken either within the current system or with full fiscal powers; notes that the Scottish Government’s Medium Term Financial Strategy, published in June 2025, projected a funding gap of over £4.7 billion by 2029-30; considers that developing a sustainable plan to close this gap is essential to Scotland's public services and that it is incumbent on all parties in the Parliament to work towards this goal; believes that, to this end, the Scottish Government should take a strategic approach across all devolved taxation in Scotland to include an immediate and comprehensive review of business rates, including consideration of measures such as widening the scope of Fresh Start relief to include businesses that occupy an empty unit within six months of the unit becoming vacant, and further believes that the Scottish Government should convene cross-party talks on council tax reform immediately.”
“For Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Anderson, Heather (Dundee City West) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley) (SNP) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Barratt, David (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North) (SNP) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Black, Dawn (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Bonnar, Steven (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Bouse, Gary (Falkirk West) (SNP) Brown, Alan (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Bruce, Holly (Glasgow Southside) (Green) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Campbell, Kate (Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent) (SNP) Campbell, Michelle (Renfrewshire North and Cardonald) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Day, Martyn (Falkirk East and Linlithgow) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill) (SNP) Duane, Iris (Glasgow) (Green) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Fagan, Joe (South Scotland) (Lab) Flynn, Stephen (Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine) (SNP) Gethins, Stephen (Dundee City East) (SNP) Ghani, Zen (Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok) (SNP) Gibson, Patricia (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Goodlad, Hannah Mary (Shetland Islands) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie) (SNP) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Lab) Hagmann, Katie (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen and Cambuslang) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kerr, Alex (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) Kerr, Calum (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Kinross-O’Neill, Kayleigh (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Kumar, Simita (Edinburgh South Western) (SNP) Leask, Kristopher (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Linden, David (Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston) (SNP) Long, Joe (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Green) MacKinnon, Donald (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Lab) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith) (SNP) Manivannan, Q (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McKee, Cara (West Scotland) (Green) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Easterhouse and Springburn) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Melville, Lloyd (Angus South) (SNP) Merrick, Colm (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Middleton, Jack (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mitchell, Laura (Moray) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Moodie, Laura (South Scotland) (Green) Nevens, Kate (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Oswald, Kirsten (Eastwood) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Sangster, Katherine (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Edinburgh Central) (Green) Smith, Alyn (Stirling) (SNP) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stafford, Pauline (Bathgate) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Thewliss, Alison (Glasgow Central) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Young, Jenny (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Lab) Against Bannerman, Max (Highlands and Islands) (Reform) Beresford, Senga (South Scotland) (Reform) Bland, Amanda (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Briggs, Miles (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Currie, Victor (Highlands and Islands) (Reform) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Kerr, Thomas (Glasgow) (Reform) Kirkwood, David (South Scotland) (Reform) Langan, Jamie (South Scotland) (Reform) Lindsay, Amanda (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) MacDougall, Julie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Reform) Massey, Duncan (North East Scotland) (Reform) McDade, Helen (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Reform) Offord, Malcolm (West Scotland) (Reform) Ross, Angela (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Reform) Schmulian, Kim (Glasgow) (Reform) Simpson, Mark (North East Scotland) (Reform) Smith, David (West Scotland) (Reform) Abstentions Ahmed, Irshad (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Baxter, Andrew (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (LD) Chou Turvey, Yi-pei (North East Scotland) (LD) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh North Western) (LD) Dijkstra-Downie, Sanne (Edinburgh Northern) (LD) Green, David (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (LD) Harley, Adam (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (LD) MacCallum, Morven-May (Highlands and Islands) (LD) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) Rennie, Willie (Fife North East) (LD) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on motion S7M-00249, in the name of Jenny Gilruth, on wealth taxation for public services, as amended, is: For 84, Against 28, Abstentions 10.”
“Amendment disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: The final question is, that motion S7M-00249, in the name of Jenny Gilruth, on wealth taxation for public services, as amended, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“For Ahmed, Irshad (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Bannerman, Max (Highlands and Islands) (Reform) Baxter, Andrew (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (LD) Beresford, Senga (South Scotland) (Reform) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Bland, Amanda (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Briggs, Miles (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Con) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Chou Turvey, Yi-pei (North East Scotland) (LD) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh North Western) (LD) Currie, Victor (Highlands and Islands) (Reform) Dijkstra-Downie, Sanne (Edinburgh Northern) (LD) Fagan, Joe (South Scotland) (Lab) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Con) Green, David (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (LD) Griffin, Mark (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Lab) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Harley, Adam (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (LD) Hoy, Craig (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Kerr, Thomas (Glasgow) (Reform) Kirkwood, David (South Scotland) (Reform) Langan, Jamie (South Scotland) (Reform) Lindsay, Amanda (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Long, Joe (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) MacCallum, Morven-May (Highlands and Islands) (LD) MacDougall, Julie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Reform) MacKinnon, Donald (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Lab) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Massey, Duncan (North East Scotland) (Reform) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McDade, Helen (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Reform) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Offord, Malcolm (West Scotland) (Reform) Rennie, Willie (Fife North East) (LD) Ross, Angela (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Reform) Sangster, Katherine (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Schmulian, Kim (Glasgow) (Reform) Simpson, Mark (North East Scotland) (Reform) Smith, David (West Scotland) (Reform) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Young, Jenny (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Lab) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Anderson, Heather (Dundee City West) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley) (SNP) Barratt, David (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North) (SNP) Black, Dawn (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Bonnar, Steven (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Bouse, Gary (Falkirk West) (SNP) Brown, Alan (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Bruce, Holly (Glasgow Southside) (Green) Campbell, Kate (Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent) (SNP) Campbell, Michelle (Renfrewshire North and Cardonald) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Day, Martyn (Falkirk East and Linlithgow) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill) (SNP) Duane, Iris (Glasgow) (Green) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Flynn, Stephen (Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine) (SNP) Gethins, Stephen (Dundee City East) (SNP) Ghani, Zen (Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok) (SNP) Gibson, Patricia (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Goodlad, Hannah Mary (Shetland Islands) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie) (SNP) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Hagmann, Katie (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen and Cambuslang) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Kerr, Alex (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) Kerr, Calum (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Kinross-O’Neill, Kayleigh (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Kumar, Simita (Edinburgh South Western) (SNP) Leask, Kristopher (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Linden, David (Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Green) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith) (SNP) Manivannan, Q (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McKee, Cara (West Scotland) (Green) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Easterhouse and Springburn) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Melville, Lloyd (Angus South) (SNP) Merrick, Colm (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Middleton, Jack (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mitchell, Laura (Moray) (SNP) Moodie, Laura (South Scotland) (Green) Nevens, Kate (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Oswald, Kirsten (Eastwood) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Slater, Lorna (Edinburgh Central) (Green) Smith, Alyn (Stirling) (SNP) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stafford, Pauline (Bathgate) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Thewliss, Alison (Glasgow Central) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on amendment S7M-00249.5, in the name of Willie Rennie, is: For 52, Against 69, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: The next question is, that amendment S7M-00249.5, in the name of Willie Rennie, which seeks to amend motion S7M- 00249, in the name of Jenny Gilruth, on wealth taxation for public services, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“For Bannerman, Max (Highlands and Islands) (Reform) Beresford, Senga (South Scotland) (Reform) Bland, Amanda (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Briggs, Miles (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Currie, Victor (Highlands and Islands) (Reform) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Hoy, Craig (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Kerr, Thomas (Glasgow) (Reform) Kirkwood, David (South Scotland) (Reform) Langan, Jamie (South Scotland) (Reform) Lindsay, Amanda (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) MacDougall, Julie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Reform) Massey, Duncan (North East Scotland) (Reform) McDade, Helen (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Reform) Offord, Malcolm (West Scotland) (Reform) Ross, Angela (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Reform) Schmulian, Kim (Glasgow) (Reform) Simpson, Mark (North East Scotland) (Reform) Smith, David (West Scotland) (Reform) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Ahmed, Irshad (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Anderson, Heather (Dundee City West) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley) (SNP) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Barratt, David (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Baxter, Andrew (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (LD) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North) (SNP) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Black, Dawn (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Bonnar, Steven (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Bouse, Gary (Falkirk West) (SNP) Brown, Alan (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Bruce, Holly (Glasgow Southside) (Green) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Campbell, Kate (Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent) (SNP) Campbell, Michelle (Renfrewshire North and Cardonald) (SNP) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Chou Turvey, Yi-pei (North East Scotland) (LD) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh North Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Day, Martyn (Falkirk East and Linlithgow) (SNP) Dijkstra-Downie, Sanne (Edinburgh Northern) (LD) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill) (SNP) Duane, Iris (Glasgow) (Green) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Fagan, Joe (South Scotland) (Lab) Flynn, Stephen (Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine) (SNP) Gethins, Stephen (Dundee City East) (SNP) Ghani, Zen (Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok) (SNP) Gibson, Patricia (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Goodlad, Hannah Mary (Shetland Islands) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie) (SNP) Green, David (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Lab) Hagmann, Katie (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Harley, Adam (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (LD) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen and Cambuslang) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kerr, Alex (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) Kerr, Calum (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Kinross-O’Neill, Kayleigh (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Kumar, Simita (Edinburgh South Western) (SNP) Leask, Kristopher (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Linden, David (Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston) (SNP) Long, Joe (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) MacCallum, Morven-May (Highlands and Islands) (LD) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Green) MacKinnon, Donald (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Lab) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith) (SNP) Manivannan, Q (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McKee, Cara (West Scotland) (Green) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Easterhouse and Springburn) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Melville, Lloyd (Angus South) (SNP) Merrick, Colm (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Middleton, Jack (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mitchell, Laura (Moray) (SNP) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Moodie, Laura (South Scotland) (Green) Nevens, Kate (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Oswald, Kirsten (Eastwood) (SNP) Rennie, Willie (Fife North East) (LD) Roddick, Emma (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Sangster, Katherine (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Edinburgh Central) (Green) Smith, Alyn (Stirling) (SNP) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stafford, Pauline (Bathgate) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Thewliss, Alison (Glasgow Central) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Young, Jenny (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Lab) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on amendment S7M-00249.3, in the name of Craig Hoy, is: For 28, Against 94, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: I remind members that, if the amendment in the name of Craig Hoy is agreed to, the amendment in the name of Willie Rennie will fall. The next question is, that amendment S7M- 00249.3, in the name of Craig Hoy, which seeks to amend motion S7M-00249, in the name of Jenny Gilruth, on wealth taxation for public services, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes. The Presiding Officer: Your vote has been recorded. For Ahmed, Irshad (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Bruce, Holly (Glasgow Southside) (Green) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Duane, Iris (Glasgow) (Green) Fagan, Joe (South Scotland) (Lab) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Lab) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Kinross-O’Neill, Kayleigh (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Leask, Kristopher (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Long, Joe (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Green) MacKinnon, Donald (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (Lab) Manivannan, Q (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McKee, Cara (West Scotland) (Green) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Moodie, Laura (South Scotland) (Green) Nevens, Kate (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Green) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Sangster, Katherine (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Edinburgh Central) (Green) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Young, Jenny (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Lab) Against Bannerman, Max (Highlands and Islands) (Reform) Baxter, Andrew (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (LD) Beresford, Senga (South Scotland) (Reform) Bland, Amanda (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Briggs, Miles (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Con) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Chou Turvey, Yi-pei (North East Scotland) (LD) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh North Western) (LD) Currie, Victor (Highlands and Islands) (Reform) Dijkstra-Downie, Sanne (Edinburgh Northern) (LD) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Con) Green, David (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (LD) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Harley, Adam (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (LD) Hoy, Craig (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Kerr, Thomas (Glasgow) (Reform) Kirkwood, David (South Scotland) (Reform) Langan, Jamie (South Scotland) (Reform) Lindsay, Amanda (Central Scot and Lothians West) (Reform) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) MacCallum, Morven-May (Highlands and Islands) (LD) MacDougall, Julie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Reform) Massey, Duncan (North East Scotland) (Reform) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McDade, Helen (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Reform) Offord, Malcolm (West Scotland) (Reform) Rennie, Willie (Fife North East) (LD) Ross, Angela (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Reform) Schmulian, Kim (Glasgow) (Reform) Simpson, Mark (North East Scotland) (Reform) Smith, David (West Scotland) (Reform) Abstentions Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Anderson, Heather (Dundee City West) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley) (SNP) Barratt, David (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North) (SNP) Black, Dawn (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Bonnar, Steven (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Bouse, Gary (Falkirk West) (SNP) Brown, Alan (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Campbell, Kate (Edinburgh Eastern, Musselburgh and Tranent) (SNP) Campbell, Michelle (Renfrewshire North and Cardonald) (SNP) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Day, Martyn (Falkirk East and Linlithgow) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Kelvin and Maryhill) (SNP) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Flynn, Stephen (Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine) (SNP) Gethins, Stephen (Dundee City East) (SNP) Ghani, Zen (Glasgow Cathcart and Pollok) (SNP) Gibson, Patricia (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Goodlad, Hannah Mary (Shetland Islands) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie) (SNP) Hagmann, Katie (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen and Cambuslang) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Kerr, Alex (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP) Kerr, Calum (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Kumar, Simita (Edinburgh South Western) (SNP) Linden, David (Glasgow Baillieston and Shettleston) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh North Eastern and Leith) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Easterhouse and Springburn) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian Coast and Lammermuirs) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Melville, Lloyd (Angus South) (SNP) Merrick, Colm (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Middleton, Jack (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mitchell, Laura (Moray) (SNP) Oswald, Kirsten (Eastwood) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP) Smith, Alyn (Stirling) (SNP) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stafford, Pauline (Bathgate) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) Thewliss, Alison (Glasgow Central) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on amendment S7M-00249.1, in the name of Patrick Harvie, is: For 30, Against 37, Abstentions 55.”
“The greatest trick that John Swinney ever pulled was trying to present this as a fresh start for Scotland: “Meet the new Cabinet—they look an awful lot like the old Cabinet”. Nonetheless, we look forward to working with them to deliver for Scotland. 14:50”
“As Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, she released hundreds of prisoners on to the streets early to tackle overcrowding in our prisons; I wonder whether she will adopt the same tactic to tackle delayed discharge. When it comes to ambition, few can match Scotland’s new Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport, Stephen Flynn. We all saw Mr Flynn’s struggle to get into Bute house yesterday. That was perhaps a sign of things to come—but do not worry, First Minister, Mr Flynn has said that he is right behind you. Whether that is a statement of support or a threat, people can draw their own conclusions. A colleague of mine remarked that the new Cabinet looks like the cast list for a production of “Macbeth” at Holyrood. If you ask me, they look a lot more like the usual suspects.”
“The roles of the minister for independence and the minister for community wealth have, sadly, faded into the past. However, if it is not a performative job title, a more ominous ministerial title I cannot imagine. We can only imagine that it was decided that the title of “Minister for Job Losses and Redundancies” was too on the nose. With the possibility of 20,000 public sector job cuts on the way, I hope that Mr McKee is ready to face the righteous fury of Scotland’s trade union movement and the public at large. Members on the Labour benches are clear that Scottish Labour’s priority will always be to protect jobs and to stand up for the interests of Scotland’s workers. Angela Constance is our new Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care. I congratulate her. It is hard to imagine a more important job.”
“I also extend my congratulations to Jenny Gilruth, who is Scotland’s new Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government. Ms Gilruth has her work cut out for her to fix the mess that her boss has made of our finances. Given her U-turn on mobile phones in classrooms, however, we wonder whether she will be confiscating phones on the way into the Cabinet room in due course. When it comes to fixing the mess of our public finances, the task truly falls to Scotland’s new Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform, Ivan McKee. Ivan McKee could be joining in a rich SNP heritage of ministers with performative job titles. Oh, how we miss the cabinet secretary for the wellbeing economy. What became of the minister for the just transition?”
“I congratulate Stephen Gethins and Alison Thewliss on their appointments as ministers, too, and I particularly congratulate Hannah Mary Goodlad and Simita Kumar on their appointments as the two ministers who are new to any Parliament. That brings me to the Cabinet. John Swinney’s election as First Minister is undoubtedly a political achievement. However, like many across Scotland, we struggle to see how the man who failed as education secretary and created the black hole in Scotland’s finances can deliver the leadership that Scotland needs now. We are sure that Mr Swinney will do all that he can to prove us wrong, and we wish him every success in carrying out his duty to serve the people of Scotland.”
“If and when Parliament confirms his appointment, I hope that the Minister for Parliamentary Business and Veterans will spare a thought for the veterans in his own group who have not got the call-up as of yet. It would be remiss of us not to say that Mr Hepburn’s appointment and Kirsten Oswald’s appointment as Minister for Victims and Community Safety have raised some concerns, but that is for the First Minister to make a judgment on. To be clear, we do not intend to oppose the First Minister in his making of appointments, but we do expect ministers to conduct themselves professionally and appropriately at all times and to uphold the highest standards.”
“However, I must be clear that we will continue to hold Government ministers to account: to challenge them on their failings and to pressure them to focus on the priorities of the people of Scotland— not as opposition for opposition’s sake, but to make them better. The election result, which deprived the SNP of a majority, proved that the people of Scotland want a politics that is centred on their concerns. The cost of living, our national health service, our economy and safety on our streets are the issues that we are expecting ministers to address. People want ministers who will make an impact, and I am not just talking about Jamie Hepburn.”
“On behalf of the Scottish Labour Party, I welcome the new Scottish Cabinet and junior ministers to their roles. I congratulate every one of the SNP MSPs who has been given ministerial office, and I confess that I am somewhat jealous. The night before he died, John Smith famously said that the “opportunity to serve” his nation was all he asked. Every one of the ministers has been given that precious gift that was denied to John Smith, and I hope that they appreciate the honour that they have been given and make the most of it. As our leader, Anas Sarwar, said on Tuesday, this is a new Parliament and it is a chance to introduce a new politics of co-operation. That is the spirit in which the Scottish Labour Party will engage with the Scottish Government.”
“I, Neil Bibby, 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 ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and what issues were discussed. (S6O-05703)”
“To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to council tax increases approved by local authorities across Scotland for 2026-27. (S6O-05663)”
“Can they assist those organisations in trying to find a way forward from the situation? Angus Robertson: I acknowledge the concerns that Neil Bibby raises and I recognise that a great number of people, particularly in Glasgow, are concerned about those developments. In the first instance, the issue relates to Glasgow City Council and Creative Scotland. I am being updated on the situation. Discussions are on-going and, as soon as there is anything that I can report to Neil Bibby, I will be happy to do so.”
“Last month, City Property (Glasgow), which is an arm’s-length organisation of Glasgow City Council, issued its tenants with an eviction notice for their premises at Trongate 103 unless they agreed to sign a new lease under which their rent would rise to up to four times its current level. Trongate 103 is home to organisations such as GMAC, Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre, Glasgow Print Studio and Street Level Photoworks. We all know that local authorities are under significant financial pressure, but the situation is very concerning for the culture sector in Glasgow, particularly following the closure of the Centre for Contemporary Arts. Does the cabinet secretary agree that that would be another devastating blow for Glasgow’s creative sector? What are he and his officials prepared to do?”
“To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Renfrewshire health and social care partnership and what was discussed. (S6O-05587)”
“However, we understand that the sequence will be the completion of the Glen Rosa, then the bridge to those four additional vessels. As I said in my statement, we expect the proposed programme to provide additional work over the next five years but, critically, it will also allow for the yard to secure additional work on the open market. It is critical that that pipeline of work is understood as a means to bridge the gap. It is not a case of wanting Ferguson Marine to work with only one customer—namely, the”
“There has been a lot of blame going around about the ferries fiasco, but the one group of people who have been blameless throughout are the workforce. When does the Deputy First Minister expect work on the vessels to start and to be completed by? When will the business plan for yard modernisation be updated? To give confidence to the Parliament, the public and the workforce, will the Deputy First Minister say which of those measures will be completed by the time she leaves office? Kate Forbes: It is worth putting on record what my colleague said a few moments ago—that a third of the vessels in the fleet are being replaced as we speak, and we have, today, set out plans for further work. When it comes to timescales, due diligence and formal approvals are required, so I will reserve my position on when the work will start.”
“I thank the Deputy First Minister for advance sight of her statement. The number 1 reason why we do not have a resilient ferry service is that we do not have a resilient ferry fleet. The SNP has taken almost 19 years to equal the number of ferries that were built under the Scottish Labour-led Government in the previous eight years. I welcome the decision to directly award two ferries and two marine vessels to Ferguson Marine. The yard has a track record of building such vessels, and Scottish Labour has said before that the Scottish Government needs to lead by example by awarding the yard future work. I join the Deputy First Minister in commending the work of the GMB, and particularly Alex Logan.”
“There is no doubt that away fans help to create an atmosphere at football matches, but our football clubs will surely want to boost attendance and fill any seats in the home stands, if they can. I thank Gillian Mackay for securing the debate. I look forward to hearing the response from the 42 clubs and from the Scottish Government. I agree that clubs should listen to and engage with fans, and I join other members in praising the work that fans do. 19:11”
“We must recognise the significant economic contribution that Scottish football and its supporters make. A recent report by the Fraser of Allander Institute that was commissioned by the Scottish Professional Football League, the Scottish Football Association and the Scottish Women’s Premier League showed that the national game creates £840 million in gross value added in the economy and supports 14,315 full- time equivalent jobs. It is clear that ticket revenues are an important part of clubs’ revenues, and we must recognise that. However, I hope and expect that our football clubs will look carefully at what more can be done to balance revenue needs with the need to make attending football matches more affordable, not just for away fans but for home fans.”
“Therefore, as Mr Whittle has done, I welcome and commend the schemes that are operated by clubs such as St Mirren and others that offer significantly reduced ticket prices for children or indeed free tickets for local schoolchildren. For families on low incomes, attending football matches can be particularly challenging. Gillian Mackay: Does Mr Bibby recognise that the cap that we are looking for is on away tickets? Although there are great initiatives at individual clubs, there is an issue to do with people being priced out of following their clubs on the road. Neil Bibby: I do. There are affordability issues, particularly for away fans but also for home fans, so we need to consider both in the round. For families who attend matches, as well as the ticket prices, there is everything else that goes along with that, even for home matches.”
“The Scottish premiership already has a higher weekly match attendance per head than any other country in Europe, and that was before the rollercoaster that we have witnessed this season, with St Mirren winning the league cup, Scotland qualifying for the world cup and an exciting title race involving four teams, with Hearts and Motherwell not just winning games but playing fantastic football. As we have heard, we also still have eight teams that could win the Scottish cup. What a brilliant time to be a football fan in Scotland. As we have heard, we must recognise the costs for fans of attending games. I have said before in relation to the world cup, and I would say in relation to football at any level, that we cannot or should not price ordinary working people out of the game that they love.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate. Jamie Hepburn commented that it is one of a number of debates that we have had on football recently. I have not participated in all of them, but some might say that we have had some fixture congestion when it comes to debates on football in the chamber. I thank Gillian Mackay for bringing this particular one to the chamber to recognise the importance of fans to our national game. It is worth repeating the immortal words of Jock Stein that football without fans is nothing. That is absolutely true anywhere in the world, but the passion and support that there is here in Scotland is seldom surpassed.”
“To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to local authorities for the delivery of the learn to swim programme in its budget 2026-27. (S6O-05562)”
“We will not support a motion that threatens the safety and security of our citizens, our country and our NATO allies. I move amendment S6M-20819.2, to leave out from “strongly” to end and insert: “acknowledges that any use by other nations of Scottish infrastructure must be done in accordance with domestic and international law; welcomes the role that both Scotland and Prestwick airport have played in supporting Ukraine against the Russian invasion; recognises the importance of Scotland’s strategic assets in supporting international security; affirms its support for the UK’s place in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and welcomes the UK Government commitment to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP in an era of global instability.” 15:17”
“To quote the man himself, we need a little less conversation and grandstanding from the Greens. Given that their motion is dangerous, virtue signalling and incompetent, it should be returned to sender. Prestwick airport is also vital for jobs and the economy. As Sharon Dowey said, thousands of jobs are supported at the airport and it contributes nearly £0.25 billion of economic benefits to Scotland. We should not do anything that puts those jobs at risk. Ross Greer: Will the member give way? Neil Bibby: I will try to take an intervention in my closing remarks. At a time when global events threaten the stability of our democracy and security in Europe, we should be collaborating with our partners, not turning our backs on them. The motion completely undermines our efforts to keep our country safe.”
“The airport is well known for handling military customers from NATO-aligned countries, most notably the Royal Air Force, the US Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force. The motion states that Prestwick airport has been used 560 times by the US military since 1 April 2025. I say respectfully that that is not exactly news. In fact, the US Air Force has used Prestwick airport since we were fighting together to defeat Nazi Germany in world war two, and it has been used by US planes to refuel for decades since then. We should all be aware that, in 1960, the king of rock and roll, Elvis Presley, landed at Prestwick airport when he was a serving member of the US Army. I am glad that the Greens were not in charge then, as that would have prevented Elvis from making his only trip to the United Kingdom.”
“That will support our security, but it will also support Ukraine and security on the continent of Europe, which is threatened by Putin’s aggression. It will help to boost skilled, unionised and high-wage jobs in Scotland’s defence industry, including at Prestwick airport, which is mentioned in the motion. We can of course have different views on the policies and actions of the current US Administration, but our special relationship with the United States and its people is long-standing and vitally important and must be maintained. Ross Greer: Will the member take an intervention? Neil Bibby: I will not take one now, but I will try to do so in my closing speech. The one airport that is mentioned in the Scottish Greens’ motion on ending US military use is Prestwick.”
“In 1949, the United Kingdom, under the leadership of Labour Prime Minister Clement Attlee and Foreign Secretary Ernest Bevin, was one of the founding members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and we in the Labour Party remain committed to the principles of NATO. Let us be clear what the motion that is before us means: it seeks to prevent the United States military from using Scottish airports. That would send a crystal clear and reckless statement that the Scottish Parliament is not interested in the collective defence of the United Kingdom, the European Union or, indeed, Scotland. A time of global instability is not the time to turn our backs on our NATO allies. That is why I welcome the UK Government’s commitment to increase defence spending to 3 per cent of gross domestic product.”
“Last week, when I saw that we were due to debate external affairs, I certainly did not think that we would be debating a Scottish Green motion that would evict foreign nationals—and not just any foreign nationals, but US military personnel serving in our collective defence. Well, here we are. Let me be unequivocal: we have a duty to protect our citizens and our allies, and any nation’s use of Scottish and UK infrastructure must be carried out in accordance with domestic and international law. We would expect that of our own armed forces overseas, and we rightly expect that of any nation using our infrastructure. Scottish Labour is committed to taking sanctions against the Russian regime and maintaining our obligations that we have signed under international treaties.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: I advise members that what limited time we had in hand has been exhausted, so I will have to require members to stick to their speaking time allocations. 15:03”
“I move, That the Parliament strongly opposes the actions of the United States (US) under the leadership of Donald Trump; believes that, under Trump’s presidency, the US has become a rogue state that has shown contempt for Scottish and international law through its attack on Venezuela and Scottish waters and its threats to the sovereignty of Greenland and Denmark; notes that two people were recently abducted from Scottish waters by the US military, in defiance of the Court of Session and live legal proceedings; understands that the US military currently uses Scottish Government owned Prestwick airport as a de- facto base, with US military flights landing at Prestwick over 560 times since 1 April 2025; agrees that Scotland must not be complicit in any illegal action by allowing the use of publicly owned assets by foreign military, and calls on the Scottish Government to evict US troops operating from Prestwick airport immediately and to instruct all airports owned by the Scottish Government through Highlands and Islands Airports Limited to deny access and use of their facilities to the US military.”
“Donald Trump is no friend of Scotland, and we should not pretend that he is. It is time to end his army’s extensive use of our airports and make sure that Scotland is a force for peace in an uncertain world.”
“The Deputy Presiding Officer: I would be grateful if you could begin to wind up. Gillian Mackay: We must move beyond rhetoric and sentiment on this urgent issue. Evicting the United States Air Force from Prestwick and blocking its passage and refuelling through our publicly owned airports across the Highlands and Islands is the most effective way for Scotland not just to talk a good game on the issue but to explicitly stand in support of everyone around the world who is currently a target for Trump and his hostile regime. It is how we stand up for the people of Greenland and affirm our support for their sovereignty and their right to live in peace without the on-going threat of invasion from their neighbour. It is how we stand up against his illegal and immoral actions in Venezuela, which showed utter contempt for international law.”
“Will the member give way? Gillian Mackay: Yes. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Very briefly, Neil Bibby. Neil Bibby: Gillian Mackay talks about Scotland taking its role on the international stage and in the international community. Does that include being a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization? Gillian Mackay: Greens around the world are very clear that we do not support the proliferation of nuclear weapons, but that is not what we are debating today. We are debating the routine use of public airports for military actions. We absolutely need co-operation on the world stage, but that does not necessarily mean that we need to be in NATO. Given Donald Trump’s actions towards NATO, including removing funding from it and threatening NATO allies, it does not seem as strong as it should be. Do I need to wind up, Presiding Officer?”
“Today’s debate has rightly focused on the importance of ensuring that policing is properly staffed, resourced and firmly rooted in local communities. However, it also illustrates the choice at the election in May—more decline and more crime with the Scottish National Party, or a new direction and support for our police with Scottish Labour. I urge members to support the motion. The Presiding Officer: That concludes the debate on community policing. Finance (No 2) Bill 17:07”
“Around 180 stations and buildings have been lost up and down the country since the creation of Police Scotland. In my region, we have seen the recent closures of Milngavie station, Bishopbriggs station and, even more scandalously, Ferguslie Park police station. Ferguslie Park has some of the greatest socioeconomic needs in the country. More police stations are under threat, as Davy Russell mentioned, and he was right to raise that issue. Even those that are still operational are in a state of significant disrepair, including Paisley and Greenock, which are in my West Scotland region. My colleague Katy Clark has raised that issue consistently. Scottish Labour is clear that we must properly fund the repair and maintenance of our stations to ensure that they are fit for purpose and able to serve local communities.”
“The number of officer absences due to mental health and stress increased by more than 50 per cent between 2021 and 2024. More than 1,700 officers have quit during the past two years, leaving at a rate of more than 16 every week. Scottish Labour will seek to improve pay, working conditions and mental health support in Police Scotland to retain existing officers and attract new recruits. The Presiding Officer: I would be grateful if colleagues who are joining us could do so quietly. Neil Bibby: Particularly because the cabinet secretary said earlier that she wanted to talk about the future of policing and we are presenting ideas that the Scottish Government is failing to deliver on. Members have also highlighted the negative impact that the loss of police stations has had on community safety.”
“Scottish Labour will act where the Scottish Government has not, by creating a dedicated mental health emergency response division, which will result in a reduction the number of police call-outs. Another pressure on local policing capacity is the amount of time that officers have to spend in courts. The chief constable previously indicated that up to 420 officers a day were in courts across Scotland. That takes officers off the streets and out of their communities. Scottish Labour will seek to address that with the roll-out of new technology in the court system and by reviewing the scheduling of cases. Perhaps the biggest pressure on local policing capacity is the stress and other mental health issues that many officers face.”
“We will restore at least 360 officers to the front line in local divisions, ensuring that officers are once again visible and active participants in every community across Scotland. We will bring back crime prevention officers, who will work to proactively prevent crime rather than simply being reactive. In the first weeks of a Scottish Labour Government, new strategic police priorities will be set out to rebuild public confidence in local policing. That is vital to ensuring that we have effective local policing across the country. Members have raised other pressures that affect local policing capacity that the Scottish Government has failed to address. One of those pressures is the fact that officers increasingly find themselves dealing with mental health-related incidents.”