Meeting of the Parliament 09 June 2026 [Draft]
If Graham Simpson has been talking about it for years in the chamber but not been able to deliver it, that may be a reflection on his abilities. However, I am new here, and I give him the commitment that we can—and, indeed, will—do so. In short, we want the planning system to act as an enabler rather than a barrier.
I am conscious that, to anyone who lives near Mossmorran or Grangemouth, or in my home city of Aberdeen, all of this may feel a mile away from their lived reality, in which deindustrialisation is leaving them without hope for the future or the certainty that they crave for their family. They want to hear that their jobs of today can be protected so that they can have access to the jobs of tomorrow. I want them to know that we hear them and will do our part to deliver the opportunities for a future that they and their communities deserve.
None of that will be easy. We can shout about the energy profits levy that is choking investment and creating a cliff edge for jobs. We can yell that energy security matters, and that jet fuel from Grangemouth would have been better than jet fuel from outside Scotland. However, to be successful, we need Westminster to listen. Although it may well try to ignore this Parliament, we will not let it do so, because the issue matters so much to those residents and to Scotland’s future.
When I was elected to this Parliament, I could barely hide my delight—so much so that I could not even get my words out when I was sworn in. The reason why I was so happy was because I believe that this Parliament can deliver on Scotland’s potential. To be a part of that story should be a special thing for us all, delivering a productive, dynamic, prosperous Scotland, where growth is a real thing that changes people’s lives through the jobs that they can get, the homes that they can afford, the businesses that they can build and the confidence that they can have in their future. That is not just my mission; it should be this Parliament’s mission.
I move,
That the Parliament recognises that higher economic growth is essential to delivering long-term prosperity, tackling child poverty, improving public services and achieving climate ambitions; agrees that supporting enterprise, investment, innovation and trade is key to maximising productivity and increasing sustainable and inclusive economic growth; supports action to remove unnecessary barriers to success; acknowledges Scotland’s economic potential, including its key strengths in sectors such as energy, food and drink, financial services, and space, and endorses a continued focus on economic growth to build a more resilient, prosperous, and fairer Scotland for all.