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.”
The complete record
Every one of 333 lines we hold for Neil Bibby, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 7.
“Angus Robertson: I remind Mr Bibby—I know that it is difficult for him to accept, having lost the last election—that the majority of MSPs in the Parliament were elected on a manifesto commitment that there should be an independence referendum and that the public should be informed about the updated position on the opportunities that independence provides. I know that Mr Bibby does not agree with that, but he lost the election, and this party won it, and we are doing what we said that we were going to do. We are providing more funding for culture and the arts than his party even called for, and I am proud of that. This party voted for it, the Conservatives voted against it—-and Neil Bibby bravely abstained.”
“Since 2021, the Scottish Government has spent an estimated £3.5 million of taxpayers’ money on staffing and other costs associated with preparing and publishing pointless constitutional white papers. That money could have been spent elsewhere. We have already heard about the case of Cumbernauld theatre—an iconic theatre that has been part of the local community for 60 years. It urgently needs to raise £300,000; if it does not find the money, it could close. For less than a tenth of the cash that has been wasted on those imaginary white papers, a concrete community asset that actually exists could be saved. Why does the SNP Government continue to waste taxpayers’ money on white papers that have no impact, when it should be using that money to invest in impactful community assets instead?”
“I hope that Mr Bibby agrees that it is right for us to support the incoming chair of the board and his leadership of Historic Environment Scotland. [Interruption.] The Deputy Presiding Officer: Members! Angus Robertson: The chair has to get to grips with a lot of issues at the arm’s-length body, and I assure Mr Bibby that I have told Sir Mark Jones that he has my total support. I have appointed two new interim board members to strengthen the team around him, there should be a new chief operating officer at Historic Environment Scotland, and I have given him the assurance that I will give him any support that he needs. That is the Scottish Government’s position, and I hope that Neil Bibby supports that, too.”
“The serious issues at the top of Historic Environment Scotland are not of Angus Robertson’s making, but it is his responsibility as cabinet secretary to give accurate answers to the Parliament and to fix this mess. Historic Environment Scotland and the cabinet secretary appear to be all over the place, but the one place where Angus Robertson has not been is the HES boardroom. This shambles cannot go on. The cabinet secretary should not be waiting for an invitation to meet the HES board. When exactly will Angus Robertson do his job and meet the HES board? Angus Robertson: The answer to Neil Bibby’s question is quite simple. I have made it absolutely clear to Sir Mark Jones that I am happy to meet the board, under his chairmanship, whenever he feels the time is right.”
“As long as those clarifications are addressed in the bill’s later stages, Scottish Labour looks forward to supporting legislation that protects fans, supports local businesses and ensures that Scotland plays its part in hosting a successful and memorable UEFA European championships in 2028. The Deputy Presiding Officer: We now move to the open debate, and I confirm to members that we have a bit of time in hand and that those who take interventions will get time added to the end of their contributions. I call George Adam for a generous six minutes. 15:25”
“I welcome what the minister said about the Government’s engagement with Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Life. Further clarity on warrantless access by enforcement officers would be welcome. I welcome what the minister said about human rights and the right to protest, but further clarity on what distinction will be drawn between commercial activity and social or political activity would also be welcome. I also welcome what the minister said about working constructively with the UK Government to ensure that there is alignment of enforcement and delivery of the games. Scottish Labour will support the bill at stage 1 and will work with the minister and other parties to address any outstanding issues that are raised in the committee’s report.”
“We support the measures in the bill that aim to do that, and we are keen to ensure that any loopholes that would disadvantage or exploit fans are addressed. The committee also took evidence on concerns about restrictions on street traders, which Stephen Kerr has just talked about. It is vital that the Scottish Government maintains close dialogue with Glasgow City Council to ensure that street traders are properly informed about any restrictions during the tournament and that any negative impact on them is minimised. We agree with the committee’s recommendation that measures relating to commercial activity must be limited and proportionate. I believe that a proper impact assessment would be helpful, and even necessary, to us in understanding how that can be done.”
“It is also right for the Government to remain open, as the minister has said it is, to the introduction of a major events framework bill in future. Scottish Labour supports the principles of the bill, as we recognise that it is necessary legislation for meeting our obligations to UEFA and securing the championships. However, the committee has pointed to several areas and issues of concern that should be addressed. Part of the reason for hosting these events is to ensure that Scottish fans can access them without the cost of going abroad. As members have already said, we must prevent ordinary fans being priced out, and we cannot allow people to make financial gain by reselling tickets at extortionate prices. That is why Scottish Labour will work with the Scottish Government and other parties to clamp down on ticket touting.”
“We want to see more major international cultural and sporting events being hosted in Scotland to boost our economy, raise our international profile and give people here the opportunity to witness world-class events. For those reasons, we encouraged the Scottish Government and the UK Government to work together to bring the Commonwealth games to Glasgow in 2026. They are also why we fully support the UK Labour Government working with the football associations and devolved Administrations to bring the women’s FIFA world cup to the UK in 2035. These events contribute immense value to our society, wellbeing and economy. There are demonstrable benefits of bringing them to Scotland and of working with the rest of the UK to do so.”
“I am pleased that, alongside that, the UK Labour Government has recognised the importance of sport by pledging £900 million in funding as part of the Government’s plan for change. More than £500 million of that will be used to support world- class sporting events and, crucially, £400 million is being provided for grass-roots sporting facilities in order to help more people to get active and improve their wellbeing, and so that the sporting talent of tomorrow can be discovered. I welcome what the minister has said about Scottish Government funding, too. Scottish Labour fully supports the Euros being held in the UK and Ireland in 2028.”
“This will provide them with an exciting opportunity to witness a major international tournament coming to their shores. It will also be an opportunity to host people, not just from Europe but from across the world, because of our shared love of football. It will be an opportunity for visitors to take time to explore our culture, heritage and rich history, and we can use it as a fantastic platform to promote brand Scotland on the global stage. The economic benefits to Scotland, the rest of the UK and Ireland are substantial. The UK Department for Media, Culture and Sport estimates that the tournament will contribute £2.4 billion in socioeconomic value to the host nations.”
“I am pleased to take part in the stage 1 debate on the UEFA European Championship (Scotland) Bill. In opening, I join the convener of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee in thanking the witnesses and clerks for their support in drafting the committee’s stage 1 report. Scottish Labour has consistently supported the UK and Ireland hosting the 2028 Euros. I know that many of us will be looking forward to welcoming this major event to Scotland. It is important to remember that, when Glasgow hosted the 2020 Euros in 2021, many missed out due to Covid restrictions. Thankfully, there will be no such restrictions this time. Many children today, such as my own son, were too young to properly remember the last championship on home soil.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of school swimming provision, including the number of children who leave primary school unable to swim. (S6O-05112)”
“To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and what issues were discussed. (S6O-05078)”
“The focus of all our programmes is on making an impact at grass-roots level. That thinking has been brought into our international development programmes, and it serves us well as a means of understanding how the investments that we make can change lives.”
“I am not so sure that such cross-party support exists today, but I certainly assure Mr Bibby of the support of the Scottish Government and the Scottish National Party in that endeavour. I think that the need for our intervention today is even greater than it was in 2005. In relation to the maximisation of impact and how we will work with the FCDO, I had every support from the high commission in Lusaka and the high commission in Lilongwe, in Malawi, for the visits that I undertook. I put on record my appreciation for the support of the FCDO in that respect. In relation to Scottish charities, we work with a range of different charitable organisations. Our programmes are refreshed from year to year as we establish how we can maximise their impact. Some Scottish charities are supported in some years and others are supported in other years.”
“How will Scotland-based aid charities be prioritised with regard to funding support? Will the Government’s support match funding models proposed by organisations such as SCIAF? What will the Scottish Government do to ensure that no international companies make any private profit from any Scottish taxpayers’ money? The First Minister: First, I make it clear, as I have made clear in all of my public communication about these issues, that I warmly welcome the foundations of the Scottish Government’s international development programme, which took place under the leadership of my predecessor Jack McConnell. That initiative attracted cross- party support 20 years ago.”
“I welcome the First Minister’s statement, his report back from his trip and his commitment to international development. It is important to recognise that that follows in the footsteps of Jack McConnell and, of course, Gordon Brown, who set up the Department for International Development and led efforts to cancel debt long before the First Minister stepped foot in Africa last week. It is clear that, when organisations work together, we achieve much more than when they work alone. Whatever amount we spend on international development, even with a record funding settlement from the UK Government, it is crucial for public support that we maximise impact for Scottish taxpayers as well as for those in developing countries. On maximising impact, how will the Scottish Government work with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office?”
“Angus Robertson: I gently say to Mr Bibby that, in my initial answer, I gave quite a lot of detail on the level of support—both direct and indirect— that the Scottish Government provides to libraries. He will, of course, know that library provision is devolved to local government. If he is keen on financial support for libraries, he would have a little bit more credibility on the subject if, rather than abstaining in the budget vote or voting against it, as the Tories did, he had voted for the increases that have been provided to support libraries. International Strategy 4.”
“Access to libraries is hugely important for people of all ages, but it is of particular importance for our children and young people. Last week, The Herald reported that around one in 10 of Scotland’s libraries have closed in the past decade on the Scottish National Party Government’s watch. Many school libraries have also been cut as a result of the underfunding of our local councils. The United Kingdom Labour Government recently pledged to ensure that every primary school in England will have a library. How can we improve literacy in Scotland when our libraries and our school libraries continue to be closed? What assessment has the Government undertaken of access to libraries for our children and young people?”
“Mr McLennan said that the Scottish Government was making real progress. Apparently, in 2024, the Scottish Government had issued only 60,000 devices, despite there being 700,000 school pupils. I do not really count that as progress. If we were marking that progress out of 10, the Scottish Government would not even get 1. That is the story of this Government—big promises made and big promises broken; all talk and no action; all spin and no substance. We have heard a lot about distraction this afternoon. Perhaps the Scottish Government should stop being distracted by the constitution and grievance politics, and focus on the issues that matter. The Scottish Government should introduce a nationwide ban on mobile phones in classrooms, which will make a difference to our children and young people. 15:30”
“I also say to the Scottish Government, which has recently announced its support for a ban on greyhound racing—despite there being next to no greyhound racing in Scotland—that we should have a ban that will make a significant difference to Scotland’s children and young people. It is also not to say that digital learning cannot make a good positive difference to young people’s lives, but it should be done using laptops, tablets and technologies that are specifically designed for learning—not by using kids’ own mobile phones. On the issue of laptops and devices, as we have just heard from Mr Hoy, let us not forget the SNP manifesto commitment in 2021 to provide every primary and secondary school-age child in Scotland with a laptop or tablet to get online. That pledge was scrapped last year.”
“Having listened to their concerns, I would also say that, of course, there would need to be exemptions for schoolchildren who have caring responsibilities or who need mobile phones for medical reasons, but the assumption would be that the vast majority of children do not require a mobile phone in the classroom. Messaging between pupils, filming in classrooms and doing pranks using mobile phones are unacceptable and should not be tolerated—I would say that they should not be allowed to happen in the first place. That is why we should have a nationwide ban on mobile phones in the classroom. Of course, there has been progress in a number of areas, but I say to the Scottish Government and the cabinet secretary that we should have a nationwide ban.”
“It is for all those reasons that Scottish Labour would implement a nationwide ban on mobile phones in classrooms in order to make schools safe and attentive places for learning again. It is important to listen to what teachers and parents are saying. I have been listening to teachers and parents in my area, where good progress has been made to limit the misuse of mobile phones in classrooms. I have to say that the overwhelming majority of teachers and parents to whom I speak agree with a nationwide ban. It is also important to listen to the views of young people, who are also saying that mobile phones are causing distractions in the classroom.”
“I particularly understand that many parents give their children a phone for safety reasons, so that they can contact their child should there be an emergency. Many children take mobile phones to school for that reason. The proposal would not prevent that, but it would prevent the misuse of those mobile phones in the classroom. Schools and classrooms should be a space for learning, growing and flourishing, but mobile phone use is a known distraction in the classroom, which is limiting the ability of teachers to teach and learners to learn. Not only that but, as we have already heard, bullying continues to be a problem in Scottish schools, with an increase in cyberbullying, which follows children inside and outside school, and sickening examples of vicious attacks in schools being filmed on mobile phones and spread across social media.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of Pam Duncan-Glancy’s motion, which calls for mobile phones to be banned for learners in school classrooms. We have had to bring the debate to the chamber because of the continued inaction and dithering from the Scottish Government. I declare an interest, in that I have two primary school-age children. They do not have mobile phones, because I do not think that it is appropriate for them to have them yet, but I very much recognise what Willie Rennie said about peer-group pressure. I fully appreciate and understand that every parent will make choices about whether and when it is appropriate to give their child a mobile phone, with the best interests of their child in mind.”
“Amendment 332 disagreed to. Amendment 330 moved—[Meghan Gallacher]. The Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 330 be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division. The vote is closed.”
“For Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Alba) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Fulton MacGregor] Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) [Proxy vote cast by Willie Rennie] Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 20, Against 91, Abstentions 0.”
“Amendment 18 disagreed to. Amendment 332 moved—[Maggie Chapman]. The Presiding Officer: The question is, that amendment 332 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: Thank you, Mr Bibby. We will ensure that that is recorded. For Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Grant, Rhoda (Highlands and Islands) (Lab) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Slater, Lorna (Lothian) (Green) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Callaghan, Stephanie (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) Findlay, Russell (West Scotland) (Con) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Alba) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Simpson, Graham (Central Scotland) (Reform) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stevenson, Collette (East Kilbride) (SNP) [Proxy vote cast by Fulton MacGregor] Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Webber, Sue (Lothian) (Con) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Wishart, Beatrice (Shetland Islands) (LD) [Proxy vote cast by Willie Rennie] Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division is: For 20, Against 91, Abstentions 0.”
“This morning’s news from STV will have a significant impact on Scottish media workers, the economy, our democracy and the viewing public across Scotland. It will have a particularly serious impact on the one in 10 STV staff who face redundancy. The proposal in relation to the Aberdeen news programme requires specific approval from Ofcom. Will the Scottish Government make specific representations to Ofcom on the future of the Aberdeen news programme? The First Minister: I assure Mr Bibby that we will, but we will also make representations on a range of other issues. Mr Lumsden and Mr Bibby have both made an important point about the need to reflect the different issues that affect different parts of the country. Those matters must be considered by Ofcom, and they will feature in the representations that Mr Robertson makes.”
“Arts and Culture Sector Workforce (Gender Equality) 5.”
“I wish to give him confidence that changes are taking place in Historic Environment Scotland, and I will be happy to update him on them in due course. A new chair of HES will be announced, but I cannot say more than that at the moment, because a number of administrative hoops need to be gone through. I have a very high level of confidence in the incoming chair’s ability to deal with any issues that need to be considered and to take any follow-up interventions that are needed. I encourage the new chair and anybody else who takes a role in Historic Environment Scotland to understand that the organisation has delivered significantly, as I outlined to Mr Kidd. I look forward to being able to make an announcement shortly, and I hope that the news will give Mr Bibby the confidence that it has already given me.”
“I join the cabinet secretary and other members in welcoming to the gallery the chair of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. Given that, as I understand it, Scottish ministers instructed officials to attend Historic Environment Scotland board meetings back in May due to governance concerns, what assurances can the cabinet secretary give the public and members that HES will properly and robustly investigate claims that a HES director hosted an exclusive private dinner at Edinburgh castle in August? Angus Robertson: Neil Bibby knows that I am seized of the importance of the matter, because I have spoken to him and other members of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee about it.”
“That is why a Scottish Labour Government would reform our planning laws and support councils to boost house building and end the housing emergency, on which the Government has failed. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I discourage members from making interventions from a sedentary position. 16:58”
“I reject those who pretend to be welcoming but who do not build a welcoming nation that looks after its citizens. I reject the parody patriotism of John Swinney and the SNP and welcome the challenge to make the Scottish welcome real again. We can do that only by recognising our constituents’ real concerns about the level of migration and its impact on their security, our public services and our housing supply. People are angry about the lack of homes and the state of their homes, as they should be, but that anger should be directed at the SNP Government, which created the housing emergency; it cut the affordable housing budget and cut money to councils while spending £1 billion on a new Barlinnie prison, which should have cost a tenth of the price. [Interruption.] People in Scotland need a new direction.”
“When those doubts are among us, people are less charitable, and we wonder why people from beyond our shores seem to be able to get the things that we cannot afford. I will be clear. My son, Sam, had difficult birth, and in the theatre room in Paisley, a United Nations of doctors and nurses from around the world brought him into the world. New Scots have made an invaluable contribution to our NHS and our society as a whole. The resentment that people currently feel about asylum seekers is not because those people are racist but because people such as the Tories and the SNP have failed to make Scotland as prosperous as it could be, due to the beggar-thy-neighbour politics that they peddle. I welcome people who are in need of refuge.”
“I think that the vast majority of people in Scotland— indeed, in the UK—would agree with Labour’s position that we must have a managed immigration system alongside sustainable public services and finances. Scotland will always be a place where vulnerable people are welcome. It is part of who we are—it always has been. If we lose that, we lose something fundamental about being Scottish—our welcome to everyone, wherever they come from. However, let us not become misty-eyed about ourselves. Let us be realistic. The reality is that a large number of us are struggling to make ends meet, cannot afford a home or public transport, do not feel comfortable with our finances and do not carry ourselves with the confidence that we would wish for.”
“They did not have a plan then, and neither does Nigel Farage have one now—he was a key Brexiteer who is as responsible as anyone for the situation that the country faces. On the other hand, the UK Labour Government has doubled the number of asylum decisions and reduced the number of asylum seekers who are waiting for a decision by 24 per cent in just 12 months. That is practical and responsible action. What will not work and is not practical and responsible is the policy of open borders, as suggested by some members of the SNP and the Greens; equally, nor is closing the borders practical or responsible, as suggested by some members of Reform and the Conservatives.”
“I have long thought that the issue of immigration requires a sensible, mature and informed discussion. Some good contributions and points have been made during the debate. However, overall, sadly but not surprisingly, we have not had the considered and honest discourse that is required for such a serious issue. As Mark Griffin and Paul Sweeney have said, the Conservative motion reeks of hypocrisy. We know why the Conservatives have held the debate. It is because they are panicking about Reform. Who knows? The way that things are going Craig Hoy might be leading Reform in Scotland the next time that we debate the issue. The fact is that immigration skyrocketed under the Conservatives.”
“My leader and my friend Anas Sarwar has called the Israeli Government’s recent actions genocide, and I agree. Other colleagues have talked of war crimes; I do not demur.”
“No one who calls themselves part of humanity can say that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not breached that living text, which was shared in his response to the indefensible atrocities of Hamas. Yes, Israel had the right and duty to defend itself after Hamas had murdered and kidnapped its children, but the Israeli Prime Minister does not have the right to slaughter. He has turned the clock back, rather than building a new future for his nation and region. The peace of Israel depends on the peace of Palestine. I say in response to Jackson Carlaw that I believe that Netanyahu represents his Government—his coalition perhaps—but not the Israeli people. We must all acknowledge that, particularly in our own communities, where our protests cannot be allowed to sow division.”
“I rise to move the amendment in my name and make clear that the Government’s unamended motion is also in our name: we support the immediate recognition of the state of Palestine. Today, I want to speak of one people, humanity, not two; one set of values, justice, before we talk of two-state solutions; and one goal, peace, before we apportion names to crimes in Gaza and the West Bank, where there have been so many, by so many. “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” is a verse from the book of Exodus, which is shared by Christians and Jews, in the Old Testament. It is also a verse in the Qur’an. It is not, as some might think, an encouragement to violence; it is instead an exhortation to limit it, for retaliation to be proportionate and to end the code of vengeance that called for an eye for an eyelash.”
“Amendment disagreed to. The Presiding Officer: The next question is, that amendment S6M-18671.3, in the name of Ross Greer, which seeks to amend motion S6M- 18671, in the name of John Swinney, on priorities for Scotland, be agreed to. Are we agreed? Members: No. The Presiding Officer: There will be a division. The vote is closed.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted yes. The Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Bibby. We will ensure that that is recorded. For Baker, Claire (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Bibby, Neil (West Scotland) (Lab) Boyack, Sarah (Lothian) (Lab) Choudhury, Foysol (Lothian) (Lab) Clark, Katy (West Scotland) (Lab) Duncan-Glancy, Pam (Glasgow) (Lab) Griffin, Mark (Central Scotland) (Lab) Johnson, Daniel (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Leonard, Richard (Central Scotland) (Lab) Marra, Michael (North East Scotland) (Lab) McNeill, Pauline (Glasgow) (Lab) Mochan, Carol (South Scotland) (Lab) O’Kane, Paul (West Scotland) (Lab) [Proxy vote cast by Michael Marra] Rowley, Alex (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Russell, Davy (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (Lab) Sarwar, Anas (Glasgow) (Lab) Sweeney, Paul (Glasgow) (Lab) Villalba, Mercedes (North East Scotland) (Lab) Whitfield, Martin (South Scotland) (Lab) Against Adam, George (Paisley) (SNP) Adam, Karen (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP) Adamson, Clare (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP) Allan, Alasdair (Na h-Eileanan an Iar) (SNP) Arthur, Tom (Renfrewshire South) (SNP) Balfour, Jeremy (Lothian) (Ind) Beattie, Colin (Midlothian North and Musselburgh) (SNP) Briggs, Miles (Lothian) (Con) Brown, Keith (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) Brown, Siobhian (Ayr) (SNP) Burgess, Ariane (Highlands and Islands) (Green) Burnett, Alexander (Aberdeenshire West) (Con) Carlaw, Jackson (Eastwood) (Con) Carson, Finlay (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Chapman, Maggie (North East Scotland) (Green) Coffey, Willie (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP) Cole-Hamilton, Alex (Edinburgh Western) (LD) Constance, Angela (Almond Valley) (SNP) Dey, Graeme (Angus South) (SNP) Don-Innes, Natalie (Renfrewshire North and West) (SNP) Doris, Bob (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (SNP) Dornan, James (Glasgow Cathcart) (SNP) Dowey, Sharon (South Scotland) (Con) Dunbar, Jackie (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP) Eagle, Tim (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ewing, Annabelle (Cowdenbeath) (SNP) Fairlie, Jim (Perthshire South and Kinross-shire) (SNP) FitzPatrick, Joe (Dundee City West) (SNP) Forbes, Kate (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP) Fraser, Murdo (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Gallacher, Meghan (Central Scotland) (Con) Gibson, Kenneth (Cunninghame North) (SNP) Gilruth, Jenny (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) Golden, Maurice (North East Scotland) (Con) Gosal, Pam (West Scotland) (Con) Gougeon, Mairi (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP) Grahame, Christine (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP) Gray, Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP) Greene, Jamie (West Scotland) (LD) Greer, Ross (West Scotland) (Green) Gulhane, Sandesh (Glasgow) (Con) Hamilton, Rachael (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Harper, Emma (South Scotland) (SNP) Harvie, Patrick (Glasgow) (Green) Haughey, Clare (Rutherglen) (SNP) Hepburn, Jamie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP) Hoy, Craig (South Scotland) (Con) Hyslop, Fiona (Linlithgow) (SNP) Halcro Johnston, Jamie (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Kerr, Liam (North East Scotland) (Con) Kerr, Stephen (Central Scotland) (Con) Kidd, Bill (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP) Lennon, Monica (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lochhead, Richard (Moray) (SNP) Lumsden, Douglas (North East Scotland) (Con) MacDonald, Gordon (Edinburgh Pentlands) (SNP) MacGregor, Fulton (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP) Mackay, Gillian (Central Scotland) (Green) [Proxy vote cast by Ross Greer] Mackay, Rona (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP) Macpherson, Ben (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP) Maguire, Ruth (Cunninghame South) (SNP) Martin, Gillian (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) Mason, John (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind) Matheson, Michael (Falkirk West) (SNP) McAllan, Màiri (Clydesdale) (SNP) McArthur, Liam (Orkney Islands) (LD) McCall, Roz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) McKee, Ivan (Glasgow Provan) (SNP) McLennan, Paul (East Lothian) (SNP) McMillan, Stuart (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP) McNair, Marie (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP) Minto, Jenni (Argyll and Bute) (SNP) Mountain, Edward (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Mundell, Oliver (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Nicoll, Audrey (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) Regan, Ash (Edinburgh Eastern) (Alba) Rennie, Willie (North East Fife) (LD) Robertson, Angus (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) Robison, Shona (Dundee City East) (SNP) Roddick, Emma (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) Ross, Douglas (Highlands and Islands) (Con) Ruskell, Mark (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green) Smith, Liz (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Somerville, Shirley-Anne (Dunfermline) (SNP) Stewart, Alexander (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Stewart, Kaukab (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) Stewart, Kevin (Aberdeen Central) (SNP) Sturgeon, Nicola (Glasgow Southside) (SNP) Swinney, John (Perthshire North) (SNP) Thomson, Michelle (Falkirk East) (SNP) Todd, Maree (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) Torrance, David (Kirkcaldy) (SNP) Tweed, Evelyn (Stirling) (SNP) Wells, Annie (Glasgow) (Con) White, Tess (North East Scotland) (Con) Whitham, Elena (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) Whittle, Brian (South Scotland) (Con) Yousaf, Humza (Glasgow Pollok) (SNP) Abstentions Ewing, Fergus (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind) The Presiding Officer: The result of the division on amendment S6M-18671.2, in the name of Anas Sarwar, is: For 19, Against 98, Abstentions 1.”
“In the same week that we have committed to lifting the two-child cap, Anas Sarwar is toadying in behind the Labour leader in the United Kingdom to send 50,000 children into poverty through the welfare reform bill. Scotland can see that Anas Sarwar is linked to a UK Labour Government that will put more children into poverty, while my Government will lift children out of poverty. That is the Scottish Government delivering for our people. Democracy Summit (Actions) 3.”
“The First Minister: I will tell Mr Sarwar what I have been doing this week. I have been presiding over a Government that has put Scotland, for the 10th year in a row, at the top of the list for inward investment successes in the United Kingdom, after London and the south-east. We have been in that position for 10 years in a row under the SNP Government. [Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Let us hear one another. The First Minister: We have seen a rise in the percentage of school leavers going on to positive destinations. This week, we confirmed that we will scrap the two-child benefit cap, ensuring that 20,000 children will be lifted out of poverty.”
“Scots are angry at the Government’s failures and the SNP is back in crisis, and John Swinney’s big plan is to say, “Quick! Press the big panic independence button to try to save my skin.” Is it not the case that we will only create jobs, save our NHS, improve our schools— [Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Let us hear Mr Sarwar. Anas Sarwar: —and deliver for Scots if we get rid of this tired and incompetent SNP Government? The First Minister: It is interesting that Mr Sarwar’s interest in the workers of Alexander Dennis lasted for two questions, and then he got on to his usual posturing, with little substance, in the Parliament. That was the performance of a weak man in front of the Parliament today. [Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Thank you! Let us hear one another.”
“The SNP needs to up its game rather than provide the usual waffle, because that just proves why Scots are sick of the SNP Government and its incompetence. After 18 years, it is out of ideas and out of time. Last week, I told members that, a fortnight ago, an SNP MSP said that John Swinney had two weeks to come up with an idea to save his leadership. Let us look at what he has come up with. One in six Scots is on a national health service waiting list—[Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Let us hear Mr Sarwar. Anas Sarwar: —and John Swinney’s big plan is an app that was promised years ago and the merging of just two health quangos. Our schools are facing a behaviour crisis, and John Swinney’s big idea is to laminate bullet points and put them on a wall.”
“They are built in China. The Presiding Officer: Mr Bibby. The First Minister: As I explained to the Parliament last week, the Scottish Government is engaged in a sustained dialogue with the company and various other interested parties to support Alexander Dennis. Those discussions are on- going. We are talking to and engaging with the company regularly to find a way through the challenges and to encourage more orders to come to Alexander Dennis. That is at the heart of the approach that the Government is taking. Anas Sarwar: The workforce does not need engagement from the Scottish Government; it needs contracts from the Scottish Government. Jobs come from contracts, and the reality is that zero buses have been commissioned since that letter was sent almost a year ago.”