Kevin Stewart
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“They don’t want you. The Presiding Officer: Let us hear one another. Anas Sarwar: Five years ago, the SNP promised recovery and failed. Is it not the case that the next five years must be about Scotland recovering from John Swinney and the failing SNP?”
“In 80 per cent of disciplines in the national health service, there are no waiting times whatever beyond 52 weeks. That is the Government taking action to improve the circumstances in the national health service. Anas Sarwar talked about a potential change of Government. People in Scotland need to be really wary about all of this.”
“Now, Anas Sarwar turns round and says that everybody was foolish to vote for that man Keir Starmer, whom he had argued that we should all vote for. That tells us that Mr Sarwar is a man of poor judgment that the people of Scotland should not listen to and will not listen to on 7 May. Free Bus Travel 3.”
“[Interruption.] Gillian Martin: There might be groans from those to the left of me, who do not want to grow our economy by investing in new technologies for our energy, but Kevin Stewart is absolutely right: that is a key example of how the constraints of devolution mean that we are, effectively, trying to deliver societal and economic tr…”
“When it comes to the current situation in the middle east, decisions by the Scottish Government to increase the amount of electricity that is generated in Scotland from low-cost renewable sources has put us in a position whereby electricity bills should be a lot lower for people in Scotland, and are a clear example of why those powers sho…”
“The cabinet secretary pointed out in her statement that the SNP Government has increased the amount of electricity that is generated in Scotland from low- cost renewable sources and has put Scotland in a more energy-secure position.”
The complete record
Every one of 413 lines we hold for Kevin Stewart, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 6 of 9.
“[Inaudible.] The Deputy Presiding Officer: Kevin Stewart has a point of order. Can we switch on Mr Stewart’s microphone, please? Kevin Stewart: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted no. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you. I will make sure that that is recorded.”
“To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it has taken to support NHS Grampian since it was escalated to stage 4 of NHS Scotland’s national performance framework for finance, leadership and governance. (S6O-04809)”
“Like Jackie Dunbar, I hope that more can be done to renovate Glover house in Aberdeen to make it a place where folks from the north-east, Japan and elsewhere can visit and learn about the fabulous Thomas Blake Glover. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call Douglas Lumsden as the final speaker in the open debate. 13:13”
“He was responsible for introducing the first steam locomotive, the Iron Duke, to Japan in 1865, which led to folks seeing the potential for railway transportation—Japan has truly grasped that with its railway network today. As has already been mentioned, he also established a brewery, the Kirin Brewery Company. I believe that this is an urban myth, but it has been said that the moustache on the creature on Kirin beer labels is a tribute to Glover’s prominent facial hair—I do not know whether that is true. Glover made an immense contribution to Japan and its links with the north-east of Scotland, which led to much trade, including Aberdeen’s export of the world-renowned Crombie cloth. In my humble opinion, that trading network has to be celebrated. We need to do more to celebrate Thomas Blake Glover.”
“Initially, he was in Japan to work for Jardine, Matheson & Co, where he traded primarily in Japanese green tea, but his drive soon led him to found his own firm. We have heard about some of Glover’s immense contributions from other speakers. In shipbuilding, he helped to establish in Nagasaki Japan’s first modern slip dock, a facility that was crucial for ship repairs. He later sold his share to the Japanese Government, which subsequently leased it to Mitsubishi, marking a foundational step for the corporation. He also helped to commission several warships for the Imperial Japanese Navy from shipyards in Aberdeen, including the Jho Sho Maru, which later became the Ryūjō Maru, which launched in 1869. As Jackie Dunbar mentioned, Glover was involved in mining, opening a coal mine on Hashima Island and introducing modern mining techniques.”
“I, too, congratulate Karen Adam on bringing the debate to Parliament. Thomas Blake Glover is often hailed as the Scottish samurai. He was a remarkable figure who played an immense role in the modernisation of Japan during the 19th century. As Karen Adam has already pointed out, he was born in Fraserburgh. His family moved to Aberdeen in 1851, when his father became the chief coastguard in the area, and Thomas received part of his education at the Chanonry school in Old Aberdeen. After leaving school, Glover embarked on a career with Jardine, Matheson & Co, which at that point was a major trading company, and his work took him to Shanghai in 1857. Two years later, he moved to Nagasaki in Japan, a nation that was in a period of isolation but which was about to experience some dramatic change.”
“Business leaders including Sir Ian Wood have made it very clear that any further delays to Acorn would have serious economic consequences for Scotland. The UK Government has, it must be said, acted swiftly south of the border, and it is now vital that it takes action to support Acorn and avoid a cliff edge of job losses in Scotland. It must also provide a full funding package and timeline for the Acorn project in next week’s comprehensive spending review. On the member’s other points about the billions of pounds that will be added to the Scottish and UK economies if we get the transition right, I can only concur.”
“The RGU “Striking the Balance” report and the potential job losses are stark and worrying for people in Aberdeen and the north-east of Scotland. Has the Scottish Government had any indication from the UK Government that the UK Government will help to attain a just transition by making changes to the energy profits levy to save oil and gas jobs, by giving the go-ahead for the Acorn carbon capture project or by match funding the Scottish Government just transition fund—or does it not care? Alasdair Allan: The Acorn project, which the member referred to, is not only vital in supporting decarbonisation in Scotland; as the member has made clear, it is an opportunity for new industry, as has been outlined in project willow, among many other places.”
“Obviously, as all members know, the supplementary question must be supplementary to the question in the Business Bulletin and within the remit of the cabinet secretary’s portfolio. I hope that that deals with the point. I did not think that I needed to explain that. On the member’s other point, I have said repeatedly, and the member will know, that the nature of a minister’s response is not up to the chair. The minister has responded, and if the member feels unhappy with a minister’s response, he is well aware of the number of different ways in which he can pursue the substantive issues, should he so wish. I hope that that clarifies the matter. That concludes portfolio questions. There will be a short pause before we move on to the next item of business. Secure Care and the Wider Care System”
“Therefore, if you are able to control questions that are asked but not answers, what avenue is available to MSPs to get a response to a lodged question? As the cabinet secretary refused point blank to tell me in response to my question which questions she would have answered when she was absent on 24 April, I have now lodged a written question to seek that information. What can you do from the chair to urge the cabinet secretary to urgently answer that written question? The Deputy Presiding Officer: I thank Mr Ross for his further contribution. I am here to ensure that proceedings can continue. If it is a portfolio question, I am here to ensure that questions can be asked and supplementary questions can be taken.”
“The programme for government also commits us to supporting the digital discourse initiative, which provides support and advice to navigate digital media and counter the impacts of disinformation and online hate. I am delighted that we have been able to support the first stage of that work to help teachers and learners with skills to tackle the issue. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Question 8 has not been lodged. Douglas Ross: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I acknowledge that you said in response to my earlier point of order that you are not responsible for the cabinet secretary’s answers. However, later on, on the same question, you ruled out a supplementary question as inadmissible because it was not linked to the first question.”
“Does the cabinet secretary share my concerns about the experiences of female teachers and support staff who are subjected to misogynistic abuse? Will she outline what steps the Government is taking to tackle that? Jenny Gilruth: Female teachers, like female politicians, face misogyny, which I think reflects changes in our society more broadly. In March last year, we published a national framework for schools to help tackle sexual harassment and gender-based violence. Misogynistic behaviour has been identified as an emerging concern in schools, and that framework demonstrates our commitment to taking swift action to respond to current concerns.”
“I recognise that Liam McArthur has worked very hard on the bill, but even he will recognise that it is not perfect and that we will have to work together to ensure that, as it progresses, we get a bill that works for all. Today, I will support the bill’s general principles, because I believe in choice at the end of life. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Please conclude, Mr Stewart. Kevin Stewart: However, that does not mean that I will not play my part in scrutinising the bill as it progresses. The Deputy Presiding Officer: We are getting close to the point at which we will have no time in hand, and I want to ensure that every member gets a fair shot. 17:31”
“We must get that right for people. There has also been a lot of discussion about palliative care. Many folk have said that the two things—assisted dying and palliative care—are not in conflict with each other, and I agree. I am sure that many of us will still be hearing from constituents as this afternoon’s debate progresses, and the question that has been asked of me is, “Why do you not debate palliative care more often in the place where you serve?” That is a very good question, which we need to resolve. In the 2015 debate, I said that the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill was “far from perfect” and that there was “much room for improvement to ensure that all possible safeguards are in place.”—[Official Report, 27 May 2015; c 65.] Those words stand here.”
“That is where dignity comes into play. I would add that fairness, dignity and respect need to come into play in life in general. I have listened very carefully to folk who are in opposition to the bill today and have asked pertinent questions and made pertinent points. Ms Duncan-Glancy talked about choice in life. I want everyone to have choice in life, but I also want folk to have choice at the end of life, and I recognise that there are folk in our society who have their choices restricted. We need to look at a number of other issues that are outwith the scope of the bill in order to get this right. The fact that disabled people do not have some choices is down to social security cuts, more of which are coming down the line, and the fact that we do not have national care standards, which I would like to see introduced across the board.”
“We need to continue to listen as we move forward. I am very proud of the fact that we, in this Parliament, regularly use the three words “dignity”, “fairness” and “respect”. Those three words— dignity, fairness and respect—first went on the statute book as part of an amendment that I lodged to the Welfare Funds (Scotland) Bill some years ago. On the topic under discussion, do people have dignity, fairness and respect? We have heard from a number of speakers, including Dr Gulhane, Mr Lumsden and Ms Lennon, that fairness does not exist here, because people who are rich have a choice—they can fly to Switzerland and go to a clinic—whereas the ordinary Joe and Josephine do not have that choice. There is no fairness for them. Surely we should respect the wishes of people who are terminally ill and want to end their life in a dignified manner.”
“Today’s time for reflection leader, Richard Raggett, asked us the question, “How good are we at listening—really listening?” Mr McArthur, in introducing the bill and engaging with everyone here and with organisations and individuals outside Parliament, has been good at listening. Today’s debate has been respectful and considered, because we have listened to one another. Respect and consideration have been also given to and by the constituents who have contacted me or to whom I have spoken and listened. I have heard from a lot of people—from folk in the medical workforce to people of faith and people with terminal illnesses—who are for or against the bill. I have also heard from people who were in favour of the previous bill but are not in favour of this bill and from folk who were against the previous bill but are in favour of this bill.”
“I reiterate the point that I made at the outset of my first answer, which is that the staff at NHS Grampian are doing an incredible job in challenging circumstances to deliver for people across Grampian and, indeed, Orkney and Shetland. I recognise that, and I want to enable them to go even further.”
“I welcome the escalation to level 4 of the framework and the support that the cabinet secretary will give to NHS Grampian. Will those who are going in to help NHS Grampian take a look at the excessive bureaucracy that exists in the organisation—in my opinion—to ensure that it is eradicated, so that folk can do their level best for patients? Neil Gray: I thank Kevin Stewart for his question and recognise the considerable contribution that he has made in regard to the issue over recent months. I am clear that my officials and those who are supporting NHS Grampian should be looking at all possible options to improve the financial position and service delivery.”
“The far right is again on the rise across Europe and North America, and here in these islands. The ills of society are once again being blamed on minorities and people from overseas, with older and disabled folk being singled out as a drain on society. Those movements and views threaten the very values that so many fought and died to protect during world war two. It is our duty today to stand against hatred and division, and to uphold the principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. 16:14”
“Although the invasion did not come, those who were at home were not spared, with Aberdeen enduring 34 bombing raids, the worst being on 21 April 1943, when 31 tonnes of bombs rained down on Hilltown and Powis. Despite those darkest of days, through the bravery and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform, victory came 80 years ago today. On this 80th anniversary, we are reminded of the importance of solidarity. The victory that was achieved on VE day was not the triumph of one nation over another but the collective victory of all who stood against tyranny and oppression. However, as we honour the past, we must also confront the present, because today we face some of the same challenges as those that forged the peace on VE day, and I hope that that does not unravel.”
“However, I do not know any of her tales from Coventry, because she refused to talk about her experiences, which makes me think that, for her and for those other young women who had to move far from home, those experiences were pretty grim. We also have to look at the fact that war touched every community, with the sacrifice of the Gordon Highlanders touching every part of the globe, from Dunkirk and St Valery to Singapore and Burma, from El-Alamein to the beaches of Anzio and Normandy, and onwards as they went to liberate Rome and Germany. In the dark days of 1940, the threat of invasion was real, with the beaches of Aberdeen a tempting target. To this day, our children play among the remains of pillboxes on north-east beaches.”
“Today we commemorate the 80th anniversary of victory in Europe day. On this day, eight decades ago, the guns fell silent across the European continent, marking the end of a brutal conflict that engulfed the world in darkness and despair. VE day stands as a testament to the resilience, courage and unwavering spirit of those who fought for freedom and justice. As we reflect on this historic milestone, we honour the sacrifices that were made by millions of men and women who served on the front lines and the home front. I want to reflect on some stories from Aberdeen and the north-east, but some stories I do not know. I know that a large group of Aberdeen women were conscripted to work in munitions factories in Coventry, because my grandmother, Violet Morris, was one of them.”
“To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to water scarcity alerts issued by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency for the east of Scotland, in light of low rainfall and warm temperatures. (S6F-04057)”
“Lifting incomes is the bridge between tackling poverty and growing the economy so that people, communities and the nation as a whole can thrive. We raise incomes by growing the economy from the ground up, investing in people and jobs, supporting enterprise and trade, attracting investment and sharing success across the whole of”
“We will always stand on the side of Scottish industry and Scottish jobs, and I am happy to explore with my UK Government counterparts what we can do to support jobs and the wider sector, because we understand that a just transition must involve a transition—we cannot abandon people as previous Prime Ministers have done. Although some of the economic instability is out of our control, how far Scotland is buffeted will depend on how we confront the global challenges. As we look to the end of this parliamentary session and beyond, our mission is clear: we must build a stronger, fairer and greener economy that works for every business and every community, from the edge of the Borders to the tip of the Highlands and Islands.”
“Economic uncertainty is not good for anyone. I wrote to the Prime Minister recently about the impact of the energy profit levy and, today, Harbour Energy has announced that it will cut 250 onshore jobs in Aberdeen because of the United Kingdom Government’s “ongoing punitive fiscal position and a challenging regulatory environment.” Will the Deputy First Minister call on the UK Government to change its fiscal regime and save jobs in Aberdeen and the north-east of Scotland? Kate Forbes: I express my huge sympathy for those who face losing their job. As Kevin Stewart said, we are faced with the loss of several hundred onshore jobs, and we are willing to work with employers and the wider sector to look at how we can support the wider industry. We recognise Kevin Stewart’s point about the impact of the energy profit levy.”
“Today’s programme for government is a milestone. It will move us forward towards creating a healthier, wealthier and fairer Scotland—one that is fairer for all.”
“I pay tribute to the Government for looking at the economy very closely and for coming up with the six-point export plan, the proof of concept fund and the just transition moneys to create a green industrial future. The First Minister was right: we need the Acorn carbon capture project. I am pleased that the Scottish Government put its money where its mouth is. It is time for Ed Miliband to do exactly the same and provide the resourcing for Acorn. I am also very pleased to see £10 million of funding for the advancement of hydrogen technologies, which are our future. Finally, I turn to the NHS, because it is one of the most important things for our citizens. I welcome the commitment to tackle the 8 am lottery and to increase capacity by 100,000 additional GP appointments. That will be welcomed right across our country.”
“Now, the Scottish Government has committed to go further, lifting another 15,000 children out of poverty in 2026 by mitigating the impact of Westminster’s two-child limit in Scotland. If only the Westminster Government did the right thing and abolished that two-child limit at source—at the Westminster level. The cost of living is obviously a real worry for many households throughout our country. I am pleased to see that that has been taken cognisance of, with peak rail fares being scrapped for good and with the Government’s pledge to reintroduce the winter fuel payment. I will not list all the other benefits that the First Minister told us about today that people in Scotland get but those south of the border do not. However, in order to pay for some of those things, we have to have an economy that works.”
“Mr Eagle mentioned fringe issues. I will not be mentioning any of those today, because I do not have a fringe. This programme for government is laser- focused on delivering for the people of Scotland through our mission to build a healthier, wealthier and fairer country. The programme is anchored by the clear objectives of eradicating child poverty, stimulating economic growth, improving our public services and delivering a just transition to net zero. I want to focus on some of those areas, although four minutes is not long. I will start with child poverty. The Scottish child payment supports more than 326,000 children, with more than £1 billion having been put directly into the hands of families since 2021.”
“It is now time for those resources to come to Scotland, which will help to boost Grangemouth’s potential. 15:51”
“The UK and Scottish Governments both invested in the project willow study, which identified hydrogen production as one of the key pathways for the cluster’s future. Project willow confirmed that hydrogen production at Grangemouth would be significantly more commercially viable if the Acorn carbon capture project had track 2 status. Ed Miliband has recently announced huge deals for carbon capture in England. It is now time for Scotland’s share; it is time that Ed Miliband and the UK Labour Government confirmed track 2 status for Acorn. If Scotland is to realise its vast green energy potential, the UK Government must urgently ensure that resources are put into Acorn so that we can move forward with our ambitions. We have waited far too long.”
“With its expertise in oil and gas, Scotland should be at the forefront of hydrogen geological storage as well as carbon capture and storage. We also need to explore the recent discovery of natural hydrogen reserves, where hydrogen produced underground has been trapped, much like natural gas. Although that work is still in its infancy, we should be exploring whether Scotland has hydrogen reserves. The skills base in the north-east is ready to be called into action, at home or abroad, if that discovery bears fruit. I have touched on the issue of carbon capture, and I do not think that we could have this debate without mentioning Grangemouth. Research has shown that the Grangemouth refinery could have a future in hydrogen production.”
“In that partnership, hydrogen has the potential to be the large-scale and long-term energy store to replace or augment the critical balancing and resilience services that natural gas provides to our energy system today. The growth of renewables and the hydrogen economy are complementary, so we need a strong renewables sector to support the development of a range of green hydrogen projects. That is why I am glad to see that the Scottish Government’s ambition for hydrogen production is closely aligned with its ambition for expanding the capacity of both offshore and onshore wind. Just like natural gas, hydrogen can be stored as a compressed gas or liquid, but there is also the potential for storing hydrogen underground, including in depleted natural gas fields.”
“Scotland’s reputation for excellence in energy, our extensive oil and gas supply chain and our strong onshore and offshore wind sectors will be the key to our achieving a just transition to a low- carbon and, subsequently, net zero age, with hydrogen at the very heart of that transition. Hydrogen will play a significant part in the decarbonisation of our energy system by being a key component in an integrated energy system. The first key area is green energy storage. That is because hydrogen is an ideal partner for wind energy. When there is too much wind energy to utilise, that energy can be stored as hydrogen and, when there is not enough wind, that hydrogen can be turned back into clean green energy.”
“I believe that hydrogen offers an extraordinary opportunity for Scotland that promises not only to transform our energy landscape but to secure our economic prosperity for generations to come. As a Parliament, we should be fully committed to helping the Scottish hydrogen sector to develop and grow, including by integrating it into a wider European and international network. Scotland has a vast capacity for renewable energy production, which gives our nation the potential to become a world leader in renewable hydrogen production and to export at scale. Scotland not only has in abundance all the raw ingredients that are necessary to produce low- cost, clean hydrogen; we are also well placed when it comes to the workforce and industrial base.”
“In his 2020 budget speech announcing his funding of the low- emission zone, Mr Lumsden proudly stood up and told the Lord Provost of Aberdeen that he would “make no apology” for his low-emission zone. He could always take the opportunity to apologise to the Parliament today if he now thinks that the LEZ was such a bad idea. The Deputy Presiding Officer: You need to conclude, Mr Stewart. Kevin Stewart: Is that not just another example of Tory hypocrisy, opportunism and nonsense? 15:58”
“He added: “This is our”— the Tories’— “commitment and contribution to delivering an ambitious low emission zone within the heart of our city.” It is more than a little rich for the Tories to demand today that the Scottish Government protects motorists from low-emission zones when they were proudly calling the Aberdeen one theirs in 2020. Let us be crystal clear that Mr Lumsden and the Tories not only proposed the low-emission zone in Aberdeen but also started implementing the work. A year and a half later, in October 2021, when Mr Lumsden was on the council as well as here in Parliament, he proudly said that it was “good to see work continuing on the project.” We in Aberdeen are not unforgiving.”
“In response to the Tory plan for a low-emission zone in Aberdeen, the co-leader of Aberdeen City Council said: “the unanimous decision today is to be welcomed as we are committed to reducing emissions across Aberdeen and particularly in the city centre.” Who was the council leader who was so supportive of the low-emission zone? Of course, it was Mr Douglas Lumsden, who showered praise on his own low-emission zone. Yet again, it does not stop there. Only a month later, armed with his plan for a low-emission zone, Douglas Lumsden presented the annual Aberdeen City Council budget and proudly stated: “We approved a low-emission zone for the city”.”
“On 6 February 2020, Aberdeen City Council’s city growth and resources committee unanimously agreed to the move, along with holding public and stakeholder engagement, on options for a city centre low- emission zone. We already know that the Tories were the party in charge, along with their Labour allies at the time, but who was the committee convener? I will give members a clue: he is sitting on the Tory benches, or he was earlier. It was Mr Douglas Lumsden MSP. The Aberdeen LEZ was proposed by a Tory-led committee in a Tory-led council. However, it does not stop there.”
“In a move that would make the US President proud, the Tory party has lodged a Trumpian word salad of a motion calling for an end to the Scottish Government’s so-called war on motorists, using the low-emission zone in Aberdeen as an example of bad policy. For some, it might come as a bit of a surprise to find out which party was in control of Aberdeen City Council when the low-emission zone was proposed. It was, of course, the Tories. Now, the same Tories demand that the Scottish Government prevents councillors, including Tories, from embarking on such schemes in the future. Just so that we have a debate that is based on facts and not fiction, let us consider the history of the Aberdeen low-emission zone.”
“Project willow clearly states that we need UK ministers to think about the regulatory landscape and, in particular, the recommendations on the HEFA pathway, which recommends a delay to the implementation of the HEFA cap and an exemption for domestic feedstocks, alongside consideration of oil-based cover crops as an eligible feedstock under the SAF mandate. I have gone into that level of detail because we need clarity on both. We want decisive action to be taken so that there is a sufficient incentive for sustainable aviation fuel production in Scotland as well as what is progressing at pace in”
“Project willow confirmed that one option for the future of Grangemouth was the production of sustainable aviation fuel, which the Westminster Government has spent £50 million on to benefit Teesside. Has the cabinet secretary had any engagement with the UK Labour Government about SAF investment for Grangemouth in Scotland? Does she share my concern that Westminster has focused solely on the development of sustainable aviation fuel south of the border and that, once again, Scotland has been treated as an afterthought? Kate Forbes: We have been calling for more investment, and specifically more flexible forms of investment, from the UK Government, but we will also require more than investment.”
“To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its work on antisocial behaviour, what discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government about tackling the misuse of e-bikes. (S6O-04557)”
“In Aberdeen city, the Granite Care Consortium has given its front-line staff the ability to increase care or, on a few occasions, to decrease care, when they have seen patients or potential patients suffering, which often prevents them from going into hospital. Let us keep folk out of hospital if we possibly can. Those lessons need to be exported from the city of Aberdeen to Aberdeenshire and Moray to reduce the pressures.”
“Let us look, therefore, at the record £2 billion increase in front-line NHS spending, which takes overall health and social care investment to £21 billion. In a meeting that we had on Friday, delayed discharge was highlighted as a problem. However, delayed discharge is not a problem in the city of Aberdeen to the same extent as it is in Aberdeenshire and Moray. I say to the cabinet secretary that I have asked the following question before, and I will continue to ask it: why have the lessons learned by the city of Aberdeen not been exported to Aberdeenshire and Moray? That would make a great difference and would keep people out of hospital.”
“I welcome the tone of Douglas Lumsden’s speech; I have to say that there is much in there with which I agree. I put on record my thanks to all the staff in NHS Grampian, from consultants to cleaners, because they do an exceptional job. However, I am not convinced that they are listened to when they should be by senior management, and that is part of the problem. There also seem to be excessive bureaucracies in NHS Grampian that do not seem to exist elsewhere; I will come to that before I finish my speech. I disagree with Mr Lumsden on some points with regard to some of the difficulties and the resourcing. If we had followed Tory spending plans, there would have been even less to spend. However, I am not entirely convinced that spending is being utilised in the right manner.”
“Its main export to the United States is vanilla. That export allows Americans to enjoy a single venti vanilla latte for a price that would feed a family of vanilla farmers for a week. Of course, in Trump’s world, it is the dirt-poor vanilla farmers who are exploiting the American megacorporations and not the other way around. We, in Scotland, are not immune to the international situation, and we, too, will suffer Trump’s tariffs, but we must all come together to fight the far right and its rise here and across the globe. I welcome the First Minister’s efforts to prevent the far-right ideology, which is prevalent abroad, from getting a foothold in Scotland. 16:59”
“The world today is not only ravaged by hot wars; it is blighted by an economic war the scale of which the world has never seen. Let us be clear: Trump’s tariff policy is the type of economic madness that only a toddler could produce. Therefore, it was no surprise that President Trump announced it with a felt-tip pen and a marker board on the White House lawn. He claims that it is about fair trade and protecting jobs, but he slapped the UK, which does not have a trade deficit with the US, with the same 10 per cent tariff as he slapped on penguins living near the south pole. So much for the special relationship. Perhaps worst of all, President Trump’s back-of- a-fag-packet calculations have placed the highest tariffs on the world’s poorest countries. For example, he slapped a 47 per cent tariff on Madagascar.”