Alexander Stewart
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party · Scotland
“Housing for older people is a key priority that is driven by an ageing population. Does the Scottish Government recognise that prioritising the right type of housing can improve quality of life and reduce the need for public services, particularly in health and social care? Màiri McAllan: I agree with that.”
“Suicide in young people has reached a crisis point. The breaking the silence suicide prevention project that has been piloted in schools in my region is a step in the right direction.”
“To ask the Scottish Government for what reason, despite an increase in the number of businesses pledging to pay the real living wage, the percentage of people actually being paid the real living wage or more has been decreasing for three consecutive years. (S6O-05654)”
“I thank the cabinet secretary for early sight of the statement. The Scottish National Party talks a good game on child poverty, but it has failed to back up those words with actions; it has failed to close the attainment gap, one in five children lives in poverty, and it has failed to make work a viable route out of poverty.”
“I spoke about not just the £90 million—now with a multiyear commitment—for our employability service, but also the £19 million that is going into the transport to employment offer, and the £15 million for childcare for priority families that need that support to enter employment.”
“The cabinet secretary is committed to increasing all benefits with inflation, but how much will that add to the already blooming benefit bill?”
The complete record
Every one of 374 lines we hold for Alexander Stewart, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 5 of 8.
“The measures that are outlined in the bill will ensure that there will be a fair system, including for benefit recipients. We recognise that a number of the clauses falls within the competence of this Parliament, particularly in relation to benefits that are delivered under the agency agreements. We also support the provisions that are being supported by the Scottish Government and the DWP to ensure that the way in which benefits are administered on behalf of the Scottish ministers might also be a tool to tackle fraud, and we support looking at what is happening across the rest of the United Kingdom in that regard. The eligibility verification measures will allow the Government to ask commonsense, practical questions and simplify the criteria. The powers that are outlined are significant.”
“Every penny of public money lost to fraud or error is a penny taken from the Scottish taxpayer and, in turn, from school, hospitals and other services that we rely on. The Government has a responsibility to ensure that every penny that is raised is used effectively. That is why the Scottish Conservatives support the legislative consent motion before Parliament today. Fraud in the public sector undermines public trust. Such financial loss corrodes the public’s confidence in the payment system. It weakens the social contract when people pay their taxes but see the system failing. Fraudsters exploiting the system puts at risk the support for genuine, vulnerable individuals. That is why we welcome the action to modernise and strengthen the toolkit to fight fraud.”
“The First Minister: I welcome Alexander Stewart’s comments on the apology that I have given to the Parliament and to the Gypsy Traveller community. The Government has been working to address the issue, and, in the course of my comments, I made reference to Christina McKelvie’s leadership on the issue. Christina engaged faithfully with the Gypsy Traveller community and raised those issues. We have now addressed them after the production of the research report, which I am glad that Alexander Stewart has welcomed. As I indicated, the Government has offered an apology today. We will engage with the community further as part of encouraging and motivating a dialogue to address the injustices that have been experienced. The Minister for Equalities will take forward that dialogue with the Gypsy Traveller community in the period to come.”
“I thank the First Minister for early sight of the statement. It is difficult to calculate how many Gypsy Travellers have been forced by historical policies to alter their lives. The impact has been deeply felt by the community. Those who were affected have said that such policies destroyed lives, shattered and separated families and affected generation after generation. Members of the Gypsy Traveller community have been petitioning for an apology from the Government for years, so I welcome the long-overdue apology this afternoon. Researchers have highlighted that it is the responsibility of the Scottish Government, so why has it taken so long for the apology to be given? Is the Scottish Government considering compensation for those affected? If that is the case, when is that anticipated to happen?”
“I am a strong believer that parliamentarians, whether in government or in opposition, should have the courage of their convictions and be able to make their case without necessarily reading something out at great length. If that is something that other members, including Mr Stewart, would like to start doing, I would look forward to that, too. Births and Deaths Figures 2.”
“Aside from the fact that the people of Scotland voted overwhelmingly for the union in 2014, does the cabinet secretary accept that the current democratic infrastructure in the Scottish Parliament—with timed speeches, pre-scripted answers and debates for which we have little or no responsibility—is stifling public confidence in democracy? How will that be addressed in the next session of Parliament? Angus Robertson: I listened closely to Mr Stewart’s pre-scripted question. I hope that he is re-elected in the next session of Parliament. If that is the case, and if I am fortunate enough to be re- elected, I look forward to listening to questions from him that are not pre-scripted. There are different customs and practices in different Parliaments. I am not currently reading an answer that has been prepared for me, as everybody can see.”
“Mr Stewart will see the plan next week, when my colleague the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government presents it to Parliament. The member makes a valid point that there will be changes in the workforce. The cabinet secretary and I have made no secret of the fact that it is necessary for the workforce to be reshaped, because of technology changes and the need to get the right people in the right places and in the right numbers. We have been very clear about that in the strategy, in my statement and in our conversations with trade union colleagues. It is important that those colleagues are part of this process, working with us to ensure that the workforce, which is our most valuable asset, is empowered to deliver the change that is required.”
“In the statement, you indicated that the Scottish Government is ready to go further and faster, but how can that be achieved when you already know that workforce planning requires a massive reshaping to enable services to be reformed? That can be achieved only by reducing head count. When will we see the proposals that are to be set out in the Government’s fiscal sustainability delivery plan? The Deputy Presiding Officer: Always speak through the chair, Mr Stewart. Ivan McKee: You will see them when you see the fiscal sustainability delivery plan that you mentioned, which will be next week. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Please speak through the chair, minister. Ivan McKee: I apologise, Presiding Officer.”
“The Scottish Government needs to stop managing decline and start rewarding success. We have lots of successful businesses across the country, but that success is being stifled by the Scottish Government’s measures. We would empower Scotland and give Scottish taxpayers the value for money that they deserve, rather than them paying more and getting less. 15:33”
“It is clear from those things, combined with a bloated and costly public sector and the millions of pounds that have been spent on ferries, that the Scottish public are getting a raw deal. Our motion sets out what a better deal for taxpayers would look like. As well as cracking down on waste, we would abolish the basic and intermediate tax rates. That would ensure that every Scot would save up to £444, with those earning up to £43,662 paying 19p for every £1 earned. As Sir Tom Hunter recently warned, Scotland is not reaching its full potential. We need a new approach to the country’s finances instead of the old-fashioned left-wing approach that has dominated the Scottish Government for far too long. A package of commonsense changes such as the ones that we have proposed would be the first step in making progress.”
“The SNP’s tax system is no doubt responsible for some of that gap. The Scottish Fiscal Commission’s findings assume that the changes to the tax system will have certain behavioural impacts. Further analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies shows that the behavioural changes might be even worse than the Fiscal Commission’s assumptions. That means that much more spending is being wasted and that people are getting a worse deal. I very much doubt that that is what the Scottish public wanted as a result of taxation being dealt with in this Parliament. What are taxpayers getting in exchange for their higher taxes? Scotland’s education system is now internationally average. Scotland has record NHS waiting lists. There has been a litany of broken promises on upgrading roads.”
“After years of endless tinkering with Scottish income tax, the Scottish Government has left us with a system in which anyone who earns more than about £30,000 pays more in tax than they would if they lived in any other part of the United Kingdom The Scottish tax system has no fewer than six separate bands, and the Institute for Fiscal Studies has described the system as being “unnecessarily complicated”. The Scottish Parliament information centre has pointed out that, since 2017-18, the higher rate threshold has remained largely unchanged, which has dragged thousands more taxpayers into the higher tax bracket. About 22 per cent of Scottish taxpayers now pay the higher rate, with that percentage having doubled over the past eight years. Our motion mentions the economic performance gap that the Scottish Fiscal Commission has identified.”
“Our motion demands an end to the high- tax and low-delivery agenda that the Scottish Government has been pursuing for the past 18 years. The Scottish Conservatives accept that the Scottish Parliament should have a wide range of powers over taxation to support Scottish businesses and taxpayers and to incentivise strong economic growth. Those are both things that the Scottish public would no doubt support. However, since receiving powers over Scottish income tax, the SNP has used them to turn Scotland into the highest-taxed part of the United Kingdom.”
“I am confident that COSLA will continue to support us in that endeavour. The Deputy Presiding Officer: That concludes the ministerial statement. Business Motion 15:34”
“In his statement, the cabinet secretary talked about local government supporting health inequalities. Accessing information is critical, and having effective digital tools is vital. Partnership working and frameworks must be the goal, but how can they be achieved without major reforms taking place? Neil Gray: If Mr Stewart is asking me about reform within local government, that is not for today. However, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities provided collaborative support for the two documents that have been published, so we are seeing a willingness on its part to engage and recognise the role that its members play as delivery agents for our national policy ambitions. This is a shared endeavour of ambition; we want to see a step change and generational shift in the way that we deliver services and in the balance of care.”
“It is now nearly two years since the independent reporter submitted recommendations to Scottish ministers, but we are still tied up with bureaucracy. The debate has shown clear cross-party support for the action that is required. I can only hope that the Scottish Government is willing to listen. Progress on Sheriffhall is long overdue, and it is time for the SNP to stop sitting back and waiting. It must deliver, even if that means that it has to be dragged kicking and screaming to make the right decision—to deliver the roundabout upgrade for communities. 19:26”
“We need to look at all the projects that are not being delivered because we want to see what is happening. Christine Grahame: I agree with a lot of what Alexander Stewart says, but we did build a third bridge over the Forth, and we built the Borders railway, after decades of dither and delay by the UK Government. Although I am prepared to criticise my Government, it is not the case that it has done nothing in transport that is worth while. That is very unfair. Alexander Stewart: I thank the member for her intervention and I acknowledge what she says. However, when a party is in government, it is there to provide as much as possible for the whole community, not just parts of the community. The Sheriffhall roundabout has become a disappointing saga, with promises being broken again and again.”
“In addition, commuters from across the central belt and the south-east of Scotland have their journeys disrupted at Sheriffhall, and it is a constant bottleneck for those who are travelling north from the rest of the UK. The failure to address the situation is hardly surprising, because the SNP Government’s record on transport infrastructure is not good. Countless other road projects have been left stuck in the slow lane by the SNP Government, and Sheriffhall continues to be one of them. The Scottish Government has failed to upgrade important rural roads, including the A77, the A75, the A96 and, in my region, the A9. Elsewhere, those using the A83 at the Rest and Be Thankful are still facing disruption. It is a pattern that we see time and time again.”
“As Miles Briggs’s motion notes, we have been waiting for years for Transport Scotland to provide a flyover solution, and the problems at Sheriffhall are being exacerbated because of the length of time that the project is taking. We have known about the issue for decades, with numerous MSPs talking about a flyover over many parliamentary sessions. However, although the issue was first brought to the SNP’s attention during its first year in government, the project still has not progressed as we want it to. We also know that £6 million has already been spent on consultants’ fees alone, without getting a solution—a complete and utter waste of time, effort and money. The situation continues to cause issues across Edinburgh.”
“I am pleased to be able to speak on this important issue and I congratulate my colleague Miles Briggs on securing the debate. I commend him for launching his campaign to finally deliver the much-needed upgrades to the Sheriffhall roundabout. The continued delay to those upgrades is unacceptable, and the impact on residents, commuters and businesses increases every year. As we have heard, more than 75,000 vehicles use the Edinburgh bypass every day. With Lothian still seeing rapid population growth, that number is only going to get higher. It is vitally important that we get a solution—the need for one is becoming more urgent. It is, however, clear that the project is, and has been for some time, low on the Government’s priority list.”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app did not connect either. I would have voted no. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you, Mr Stewart. I will ensure that that vote is recorded. Shona Robison: On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I think that I connected and voted yes, but I just wanted to check. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I can confirm that your vote was recorded,”
“With the correct approach, Scotland can be a leading hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. That is what we wish to achieve, but the Scottish Government must play its part to make that dream become a reality. It will be only a dream if the Scottish Government does not listen to the individuals and organisations who are telling it that its tax policy is harming entrepreneurs and innovators. 16:09”
“Speaking about his foundation’s recent report, Sir Tom Hunter said that Scotland was facing a “managed decline” under the Scottish Government but that Scotland can still reclaim its place on the global stage if we bring forward the right policies, including on tax. I endorse that view. The Scottish Government should have an ambition for Scotland to become a leader in innovation and entrepreneurship, but the Government’s record does not match its ambition. To make that vision a reality, Scotland needs a new approach that is based on commonsense policies, including cutting income tax, which is so important. That will also help to incentivise more of the world’s brightest talent to stay in Scotland. We want to attract talent and we want businesses to flourish, but they are being stopped by the Government’s policies.”
“That concern is being raised by many economists. Our amendment to the motion mentions the report that the Hunter Foundation published last month, which laid bare many of the problems that Scotland’s economy is facing. The report is clear that Scotland needs a new growth strategy that fosters innovation in sectors with high potential. It is also clear that a much more business-friendly environment is required in order to make Scotland more attractive for inward investment. Any politician who has spoken to businesses across Scotland in recent weeks, months and years will be well aware of that. The Fraser of Allander Institute found that only 9 per cent of Scottish businesses believe that the Government understands their needs.”
“However, we are debating yet another motion in which the Government’s rhetoric does not match its actions, as Murdo Fraser’s amendment points out. As members on our benches have raised many times before, the Scottish Government’s approach to taxation is making it difficult for certain sectors to attract and retain top talent. That includes important sectors such as fintech. Those in that sector have warned that higher Scottish income tax is making it difficult for the sector to grow, while economists have warned that the approach risks shrinking the Scottish tax base. Headhunting companies have warned that their jobs have already been made more difficult by the introduction of the advanced rate of Scottish income tax. How is that situation supposed to help Scotland to become one of Europe’s fastest- growing start-up economies?”
“This debate is a welcome opportunity to highlight the importance of empowering Scotland’s entrepreneurs and innovators. Innovation will be key to Scotland’s future, but it has also been key to Scotland’s past. After all, it is one of the things that we are known for in Scotland. Our spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation was pioneered throughout the Scottish enlightenment, and Scotland has long been a cradle for ideas and progress. It is therefore not at all surprising that Scotland has countless inventions to its name, many of which we have heard about in the debate. The Government’s motion is at least right to speak about the importance of Scotland becoming “one of Europe’s fastest growing start-up economies”. I, too, take the opportunity to congratulate Ana Stewart on being appointed as Scotland’s new chief entrepreneur.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the number of serious assaults committed by teenagers has increased in the past five years. (S6O-04747)”
“I want to support the footprint of festivals and events across Scotland, including the one that he has raised with me.”
“The future of the Knockengorroch festival, which is billed as Scotland’s oldest greenfield festival, hangs in the balance due to financial pressures that have arisen as a result of the festival having running costs of more than £320,000 in recent years. What action is the cabinet secretary taking to ensure that such vital regional festivals are allowed to thrive and survive? Angus Robertson: I have given pretty detailed background information on the Scottish Government’s commitment to funding for events. Liam McArthur raised the issue of continuity of funding, which we have been aware is a challenge for a number of festivals in Scotland. I am content to take away the case that Alexander Stewart has raised with me and have conversations about it with officials, and I undertake to write back to him.”
“To ask the Scottish Government what assistance it plans to provide to homeowners affected by reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in their properties, in light of recent reports that offers from local authorities may result in unaffordable mortgage costs. (S6O-04730)”
“It has been reported that Police Scotland receives approximately 20,000 calls per month relating to mental health issues. The impact of the demand on the service is significant, with a lack of suitably trained psychologists and a lack of fast- tracking for individuals who have the ability to be looked after, and those individuals should not be held in police custody suites. What action is the Scottish Government taking to urgently support police officers during this mental health crisis?”
“The suicide prevention action plan is about ensuring that people are able to access the correct treatment across health and social care services. However, it is a problem that we still do not have any specialist national health service clinics for people with a gambling addiction in Scotland. I urge the Scottish Government to recognise the challenges of gambling addiction and the damage that it can cause to so many people’s lives, and to ensure that every community has access to the high-quality support services that will fully support their needs. I look forward to the minister saying that that is the case when she makes her speech. 17:24”
“Organisations such as Gambling Leap are an important part of tackling the problem. We, and the Government, must consider our part in that. The introduction of a maximum stake on fixed-odds betting terminals in 2018 was a welcome step— but it was only a step. I was pleased that, in 2020, the previous Conservative United Kingdom Government reviewed the Gambling Act 2005, and that, in 2023, it published a white paper on gambling. I welcome that the new Labour UK Government has looked at and is prepared to implement much of what is in the white paper. However, the Scottish Government also has a role to play in tackling the issue. There has to be wider recognition of gambling and of NHS Scotland’s concerns when it comes to supporting individuals.”
“Stuart McMillan: Does Alexander Stewart also acknowledge that, because of their gambling addiction, some people have, I am sad to say, committed suicide? That loss far outweighs the £60 million estimated cost to the economy. Alexander Stewart: Yes, I do, and I will come on to that later in my speech. It is a massive issue. Some individuals, because they can see no way out of their gambling addiction and feel that they have nowhere to go, consider suicide, and it is problematic if they do not get the support that they require. I welcome services such as those provided by GamCare and by organisations such as Gambling Leap, which was founded by Fife resident Colin Brown. Drawing on his own experience with gambling, which cost him more than £250,000, Colin launched Gambling Leap to support others and help free them from that addiction.”
“One of the biggest problems is that it can be easy for people to cover up their gambling addiction. In many cases, close friends or family members do not realise anything is wrong until thousands of pounds of debt have already built up. The wider effects of gambling also extend to the whole economy. Estimates by the Institute for Public Policy Research suggest that problem gambling could be costing Scotland up to £60 million a year. It is also concerning that gambling problems are most common in young adults: it is estimated that 55,000 11 to 16-year-olds have a gambling problem. A recent survey by the Gambling Commission highlights a worrying trend—that the number of 11 to 17-year olds with signs of problem gambling has more than doubled, compared with the previous year.”
“I am pleased to contribute to this afternoon’s debate, and I thank Clare Adamson for bringing this important issue to the chamber. Gambling addiction can affect many aspects of someone’s life, including their relationships, their finances and their physical and mental health. It can also affect others around them. Anyone who has seen a family member struggle with gambling addiction will know that all too well. Data shows that more than 80 per cent of those with a gambling problem reported family or relationship difficulties. Other factors that can increase the risk of developing a gambling addiction include starting gambling at an early age, problems with drugs or alcohol or having a mental health condition. As we have already heard, such addiction can be problematic for individuals and can lead to criminality.”
“As I mentioned earlier, we are putting a lot of measures in place to achieve that ambitious target, hence the additional emphasis on supporting exports and global trade in the programme for government that the First Minister recently published—which I hope the member welcomes. The additional resource that Scottish Chambers of Commerce is getting has been warmly welcomed. We have to work flat out to make the most of our export opportunities, and that should be our best response to the current turbulence in global trade. Grangemouth Oil Refinery (Closure) 5.”
“Analysis that the Scottish Parliament information centre produced late last year shows that the value of international exports from Scotland remains below the Scottish Government’s target of 25 per cent, and that the rest of the UK still accounts for most of Scotland’s services and manufacturing exports. In the light of that, what action is the minister taking to strengthen our vital internal export market? How is he working with the Department for Business and Trade to ensure that Scottish products have access to competitive international markets? Richard Lochhead: I very much welcome the focus on increasing Scottish exports. We have to be clear that the exports target of 25 per cent of gross domestic product is for 2029, but we are only in 2025.”
“Can the cabinet secretary confirm whether the energy strategy will be issued before the summer recess—yes or no? Gillian Martin: As I have said many times in Parliament, we are working on revising the energy strategy in the light of some proceedings in the UK Supreme Court. The Presiding Officer: Finally, we have a brief question from”
“I call on the Parliament to support the Scottish Government’s motion and to commit to our fellow Europeans that Scotland and her peoples remain by their side. From Ukraine to the Atlantic and from the Nordics to the Mediterranean, Scotland will be steadfast in our efforts to work with Europe as friends until we return to take our place beside them all as a member of the European Union. Together, we will continue to face the challenges of our continent and our world. Appointment of Patient Safety Commissioner for Scotland”
“Angus Robertson: I have little time remaining, so I will sum up now. Any improved deal that the United Kingdom makes with the European Union cannot ignore that Scotland voted to remain, nor can it replace what we have lost—namely, the security and prosperity offered by membership of the European Union. That is why I continue to believe that Scotland should and must return to the European Union as an independent member state in its own right. Only by returning to its rightful place at the heart of Europe can Scotland enjoy the full benefits of and make the fullest contribution to the European Union. I believe that the light that the EU was asked to leave on for Scotland burns still, and I believe that it will continue to do so until the day of our return.”
“He talked about progress in the trade agreement with India. I think that that was good. He did not mention the UK-US trade agreement, which maintains the levels of tariffs that are damaging to the Scotch whisky industry. That was an oversight. Alexander Stewart had an interesting theme in his summing-up speech: it was a could-have-been theme. He and the Conservative Party could have taken the opportunity to stand up for the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Government and other devolved Administrations in devolved areas, such as fishing, but they did not. There are three days until the summit. The UK Government has not shared the documentation and the Conservative Party could not even bring itself to call for it to do so. Paul Sweeney: Will the cabinet secretary give way?”
“Emma Roddick and Elena Whitham were right to stress why we need an ambitious reset in relations with the European Union, including on freedom of movement. I appreciated Paul Sweeney’s speech. He was right to talk about Europe being essential, he condemned the damage of Euroscepticism and, in the context of Keir Starmer’s contemptible rhetoric, he said that he would not use such language. I am appreciative that a member on the Labour benches was prepared to say so. Christine Grahame talked about the importance of the international context, and she was right to do so. George Adam was similarly correct to warn against the Farage-ism that is increasingly evident in both the Conservative and Labour Party rhetoric. Foysol Choudhury talked about the advantages of European Union co-operation, and I agreed with him.”
“Angus Robertson: Patrick Harvie was absolutely right to talk about embracing the UK-EU summit’s opportunities, but rightly also said that the summit would only ameliorate some of the damage that Brexit caused. He was absolutely right to say that he is not yet seeing a reset. Yes, the tone has changed, but the actions of this Labour Government are exactly the same custom and practice that we became used to from the previous UK Government. That is evidenced by the lack of sharing documentation to devolved Administrations, which we are unfortunately now seeing from the Labour Party as well. Alex Cole-Hamilton was absolutely right to talk about the prize—the opportunity of rejoining the Erasmus+ and creative Europe programmes.”
“Maybe he can explain to the Parliament why the rest of the European Union countries’ economies performed worse than the United Kingdom’s did in the years following Brexit. That is economic fact. Angus Robertson: Any reading of the record will show, as I pointed out, that neither Stephen Kerr—just then or in his opening speech—or, indeed, Neil Bibby, made any reference to the fact that the UK Government has not shared documentation ahead of discussions and might be prepared to make agreements in devolved areas without consent from the devolved Administrations. That is a very important point, and it is a great shame that neither of the Tweedledum or Tweedledee parties, which, in the previous UK Government—[Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Let us be courteous and let us stop shouting from our seats.”
“Neither member commented on the discussions, and I am happy to give way to either of them if they wish to put their thoughts about that on the record. Stephen Kerr: I made repeated reference to the UK-EU summit in London, which starts at the beginning of next week, so I do not understand why the cabinet secretary says that we made no mention of it. I certainly did—in connection with his Government’s grievance mongering and also in relation to the Labour Government’s willingness to sell out on Brexit. However, if I may, I will now quickly make the point that I wanted to make earlier, when the cabinet secretary would not give way. He is full of doom and gloom about Brexit. He talks about the economy.”
“Indeed, the forthcoming negotiations at the upcoming leaders summit between the UK Government and the European Union on 19 May are a critical opportunity to undo some of the damage that was done by the previous UK Administration. It is my sincere hope that the UK Government takes heed of Parliament’s motion today. I will reflect on the contributions from Stephen Kerr and other members. I will begin with the contributions of Stephen Kerr and Neil Bibby, because, in many respects they were the same. Both had little to say about the European Union- UK summit or the fact that the UK Government has not shared documentation ahead of the discussions and might be prepared to make agreements in devolved areas without consent from devolved Administrations.”
“Those opportunities include a entering into veterinary agreement so that we can more readily trade our world-class food and drink, embracing the European Union’s offer of a youth mobility treaty and rejoining Erasmus+, so that our young people can experience what other countries have to offer and young people from other countries can experience everything that Scotland has to offer. Stephen Kerr: Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention? Angus Robertson: If I can make some progress and I have some time remaining, I will let Mr Kerr back in. I have still not referred to his speech—I am coming to that in a minute. Let us be under no illusion about that or anything else: no scheme or agreement can replace the benefits of European Union membership, and I continue to hope that the United Kingdom Government will rethink its position.”
“The impact has ended free movement of people and made it harder for businesses that need people to grow to attract them. With a trend towards a declining, ageing population, we need new Scots from Europe and the rest of the world, whom we will continue to welcome to study, work and make their home here in Scotland. That is why we call on the UK Government and other political parties to reject the politics of populists who have sought to divide us, face reality and seize the opportunities to repair some of the damage that Brexit has done. Douglas Lumsden: Will the member give way? Angus Robertson: Mr Lumsden did not speak in the debate, and I have very little time. I will carry on with my comments.”
“If the past years and the fast-moving first five months of this year have taught us anything, it is that each country and region does not operate in a vacuum and that long-standing certainties cannot be taken for granted. The reality is that we live in an ever more interconnected world, and recent international events have reminded us of the global dimension in which we are embedded. Let us be absolutely clear: Brexit has been a disaster for both Scotland and the United Kingdom. The impact has undermined the economy, made it harder for businesses to trade with the world’s largest single market, ended free movement of people— Stephen Kerr: Will the member give way? Angus Robertson: No, I have to finish the list. It is quite a long list, so it is important that I finish it.”