Hansard

The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick) NPA

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-10353, in the name of Johann Lamont, on Scotland’s future. 14:40

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab) Lab

Earlier this week I joined my colleagues in the Scottish Conservatives and the Scottish Liberal Democrats to pledge more powers for Scotland. The people of S...

Chic Brodie (South Scotland) (SNP) SNP

After that litany of how poor we are all going to be, can the member tell me what the trade position of Scotland is compared with the trade position of the UK?

Johann Lamont Lab

If the member had listened to what I said, he would know that those are the views of independent experts. We know how good SNP members are at plucking a figu...

John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP) SNP

Can the member guarantee that, if we stay in the UK, the Scottish budget will not be cut?

Johann Lamont Lab

Certainly, if there is a Labour Government back in power—Interruption.

The Presiding Officer NPA

Order.

Johann Lamont Lab

We know how desperately the SNP back benchers are praying for a Conservative victory in 2015. They always put their own interests ahead of those of the peopl...

Richard Lyle (Central Scotland) (SNP) SNP

That is outrageous.

The Presiding Officer NPA

Order.

Johann Lamont Lab

The SNP must confront the real world. Interruption.

The Presiding Officer NPA

Order.

Johann Lamont Lab

It must confront the real world—not the fantasy world it has been living in for the past two years. The SNP—the party which sided with Thatcher; the party w...

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities (Nicola Sturgeon) SNP

I very much welcome this Labour debate. Johann Lamont said that a key question in the debate is whether yes or no is best for our public services. I very muc...

Gavin Brown (Lothian) (Con) Con

Given that she has said that Scotland would be the 14th richest country in the OECD, does the Deputy First Minister not feel a little bit silly for saying in...

Nicola Sturgeon SNP

The key point here is that the relative advantage of Scotland over the UK is absolutely maintained. I do not know whether the Conservatives think that it is ...

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab) Lab

Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?

Nicola Sturgeon SNP

Not at the moment. Scotland can be independent—of that there is not a shadow of doubt—but the question on the ballot paper is not “Can we?” but “Should we?”...

Malcolm Chisholm Lab

Will the cabinet secretary give way?

Nicola Sturgeon SNP

Not at the moment. I think that the founders of the Labour Party will have been turning in their graves as they listened to Johann Lamont, not just at her o...

Annabel Goldie (West Scotland) (Con) Con

Will the Deputy First Minister give way?

Nicola Sturgeon SNP

I am coming to you, Miss Goldie, so be patient. The Labour motion talks down Scotland in virtually every line.

Johann Lamont Lab

If Nicola Sturgeon knew about the proud history of the Labour Party, she would know that it is about solidarity and co-operation across the whole of the UK. ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott) Con

Order.

Johann Lamont Lab

The history of the Labour Party is about solidarity with the people of Belfast, Cardiff and Newcastle, who face the same problems that we do; it is not about...

Nicola Sturgeon SNP

I know that the proud history of the Labour Party is being betrayed by Johann Lamont day in, day out, because the only solidarity that she shows these days i...

Annabel Goldie Con

Will the Deputy First Minister give way?

Nicola Sturgeon SNP

I am coming to you right now. The dismal lack of ambition in the Labour motion is almost as bad as a comment that Annabel Goldie made at a debate that I did...

Gavin Brown Con

Will the Deputy First Minister give way?

Nicola Sturgeon SNP

Not at the moment. More than that, we have set out how policies to boost productivity, grow our population and increase participation in the labour market c...