Meeting of the Parliament 19 March 2026 [Draft]
This will be my final contribution in the Parliament, so forgive me if I get a bit emotional. It feels fitting—fated, even—that I am making this final speech on an issue that is as close to my heart as the Promise is and always will be.
I am one of the few remaining 1999-ers—those of us who were almost literally in with the bricks of this place—which means that I have been here for 27 years. That is almost exactly half my life. Even though the time is right to move on, I will not pretend that leaving is not a wrench—it is.
I say a heartfelt thank you to those whose support has meant so much, to MSP colleagues past and present and to the staff who work so hard behind the scenes. From catering and cleaning to security, the mailroom, IT, the clerks and the official report, you truly are the unsung heroes of this place. I also say thanks to my own staff, who have worked with me in the Parliament and in my constituency.
To my constituents in Glasgow Southside—the best constituency in the country, bar none—thank you for the incredible honour of representing you.
When I look back across the past 27 years, in opposition and in government, through all the triumphs and, yes, the occasional disasters, the thread running through everything that I have sought to champion and achieve is this: equality. I seek equality for my country—hence my passionate belief that Scotland should be and will be independent—and for everyone in it.
Each of us, regardless of background, class, gender, sexuality or ethnicity, should have the same chances in life. What we do with those chances is up to us, but the circumstances of our birth should not place limits on what we can achieve. I believe that we have made progress towards that during my time here, but the global moment that we live in warns us that it cannot be taken for granted. The arc of history might be long, but I have never believed that it automatically bends towards justice—it must always be pushed that way.
It was a group of care-experienced children who, 10 years ago, reminded me of that and persuaded me that, no matter how much progress we make in other ways, Scotland will not be a fair and equal country until those who spend their childhood in care enjoy the same support, stability and love—I underline the word “love”—that most of us get from our parents and families. For as long as those with care experience are more likely than the rest of us, through no fault of theirs, to end up homeless, incarcerated, addicted or dead, Scotland will have no right to claim the mantle of equality. Changing that is what the Promise is all about.
The bill represents, in the words of Who Cares? Scotland, an incredible step in the right direction. That is, in no small measure, down to the hard work and dedication of the minister, Natalie Don-Innes. As she also prepares to step down, she should feel extremely proud of what she has achieved. I am very proud of her. She has stewarded the bill with diligence, care and skill, and I echo what everyone before me has said today: that she should never, ever doubt herself. She is a first-class minister, and the Parliament will be poorer without her. [Applause.]
The Promise must be kept by 2030, and I believe that it can be, but that will require a monumental effort from the next Government and the next Parliament. It will take commitment, courage, investment and a ruthless determination to put the lives of children ahead of the established practices of the systems that they rely on.
I may have been the First Minister who made the Promise, but the real place in history will belong to the First Minister who keeps the Promise. I hope with all my heart that that will be my friend, John Swinney, but whoever it is, I say to them: “Do not fail these children. If you pick up this baton and run towards the finish line with every ounce of your energy, you will hear me cheering you on, but if you do not, be in no doubt—you will definitely hear from me.”
Presiding Officer, I have an eye on the clock, but I hope that you might indulge me for just a moment longer.
Over my years here, I have seen politics and political discourse change almost beyond recognition, and not always for the better. That is true globally, but Scotland has not been immune—and, yes, I know that I bear my share of responsibility for that.
This session of Parliament has been the most fractious and divided that I have served in, but the past couple of weeks have reminded us, through our consideration of the assisted dying legislation and now this bill, that it does not have to be that way. So, let me offer some parting thoughts. Since I have not always lived by these principles, I should probably frame what I am about to say as advice to my younger self, rather than to those who will come after me. Either way, here it is.
Make friends in other parties. Opponents need not be enemies—on that note, I thank one of my good friends from another party, Ross Greer, who has given up some of his speaking time for me today. Reach across the aisle. No matter the depth of your loyalty to your own political tribe, do not forget to think for yourself.
Keep a sense of perspective. If everything is a scandal or an outrage, nothing is, which means that those who deserve to be held to account get off scot free.
Even when trying to bring your opponent down in debate, elevate this institution. This Parliament was hard fought for, and it will outlive all of us, but there are those in the ascendancy in politics today who do not want that to be the case, so do not take this Parliament for granted.
Do not live life on social media. Use it, but never forget that there is a real world out there, and it is the people in it that you are here to serve.
Finally, every day that you walk through these doors and into this magnificent chamber, remember that it is a privilege—a rare privilege. For 27 years, it has been my privilege, one that I must now draw to a close. Let me do so by urging everyone here today to vote for the bill, for the sake of the children who rely on the state—who rely on us—to look after them.
I want the very final words that I utter in this chamber to be for those children and to those who will occupy these benches in just a few weeks’ time. Those words are simply this: keep the Promise. [Applause.]