Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 13 June 2018
13 Jun 2018 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Sustainable Growth Commission
The SNP members would love me to stop there, but they do not know what is coming next.
The report admits how challenging an independent Scotland’s finances would be. It is a confession. It is the best case, although not of many great choices. It is the stark reality. This is not some flimsy report that is easily dismissed. It is the words of the First Minister’s close advisers. The First Minister herself described it as a blueprint. It is a significant development and it deserves scrutiny in this Parliament.
Liberal Democrats oppose independence, and the report strengthens our case against it. The report makes points on the currency, on the volatility of small countries’ economies, on the deficit and on the years of financial pain. That financial weakness is a direct threat to our national health service—it is that serious.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani)
SNP
I would appreciate it if members could change their seats quickly. We are already late in starting this debate, so timings are really tight. Please pay atten...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
Thank you, Presiding Officer. I feel sorry for Scottish National Party members. The big, long-awaited report was published in a flurry of breathless press re...
Willie Rennie
LD
The SNP members would love me to stop there, but they do not know what is coming next. The report admits how challenging an independent Scotland’s finances ...
Ivan McKee (Glasgow Provan) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Willie Rennie
LD
Not just now. I will go through some of the evidence, which I am sure that SNP members will want to hear. In 2014, I warned that small countries’ economies ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Excuse me, Mr Rennie. I understand why the subject is emotive for everyone, but I would like to hear what Mr Rennie is saying, so a bit of murmuring and less...
Willie Rennie
LD
The louder they shout, the happier I am. Paragraph C1.5 says: “Scotland’s government would cede effective sovereignty over monetary policy”. I warned that...
The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work (Keith Brown)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Willie Rennie
LD
The report says—Interruption. This is the Government’s report, so it should listen to the quote. Paragraph 3.201 says: “We then anticipate a period of betwe...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Mr Rennie is in his last minute.
Willie Rennie
LD
An independent country would face at least a decade of pain. It would have cuts to public services and would not have the back-up of significant oil revenues...
The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution (Derek Mackay)
SNP
First, let me say that the timing of this debate is very appropriate, coming as it does just hours after the shameful contempt that was shown to the devoluti...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
That is enough. Excuse me, Mr Mackay—Interruption.
Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
It is their turn for out.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Enough, please. Mr Stevenson; that is not like you at all. As I said, I understand that this is emotive, but it would be useful if we could all hear what co...
Derek Mackay
SNP
Presiding Officer, the unionists may be able to shut us down at Westminster, but they will not do so in Scotland’s Parliament. Perhaps we can spend a moment...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Excuse me, Mr Mackay. My eardrums are starting to get sore with all the nonsense that is going on between members. Please just have a bit of respect for each...
Derek Mackay
SNP
A migration policy that was designed in Scotland and for Scotland would welcome people with open arms, not throw up barriers. The UK Government’s hostile env...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Please come to a close.
Derek Mackay
SNP
There are paths that are open to Scotland to take rather than simply continuing to repeat the failing UK economic model and expecting different results.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
You must come to a close.
Derek Mackay
SNP
I say to the unionists that “Too wee, too poor, too stupid” will not cut it this time. Scotland is ambitious. Scotland deserves better.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Close, please.
Derek Mackay
SNP
Scotland can be better. We will have that debate, and we are determined to win it. I move amendment S5M-12708.4, to leave out from “notes the analysis” to e...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
That is enough. We are seriously pushed for time. We will end up losing speakers or having to cut their time right down. I advise everyone in this chamber t...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I thank the Liberal Democrats seriously for giving us at Holyrood the opportunity that was denied to SNP members at their conference at the weekend to debate...
Ivan McKee
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Mr Fraser is in his last seconds.
Murdo Fraser
Con
That is exactly why so many on the left—many of whom were part of the yes campaign in 2014—have rejected the growth commission’s proposals. Further, let us n...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
You must close.