:00:00. > :00:00.general election, we saw the way young people came to the Labour
:00:00. > :00:11.Party because we had an for young people, and we also saw the
:00:12. > :00:14.weight... If members wish to ask a question, the First Minister will
:00:15. > :00:16.take questions at the end of the statement so she can do
:00:17. > :00:21.interventions and interruptions until then. I call on the First
:00:22. > :00:24.Minister. Presiding Officer, like other countries, Scotland faces big
:00:25. > :00:29.challenges. Some of those challenges, like Brexit, are not of
:00:30. > :00:35.our choosing. But we must always remember that Scotland is one of the
:00:36. > :00:40.richest countries in the world, with resources and talent in abundance.
:00:41. > :00:44.Our task is to make the most of our great potential, and build the kind
:00:45. > :00:48.of country we want to be. A fair, prosperous, open and tolerant
:00:49. > :00:51.country. And working towards that goal, my responsibility as First
:00:52. > :00:59.Minister is to build as much unity and consensus as possible. And that
:01:00. > :01:01.is why, after the election, which was, of course, won by the SNP in
:01:02. > :01:10.Scotland... APPLAUSE
:01:11. > :01:19.I said that I would reflect on the outcome, and in particular on the
:01:20. > :01:23.issue of an independence referendum. I have done so carefully, taking
:01:24. > :01:28.time to listen to a broad spectrum of voices both within and outside my
:01:29. > :01:35.party. I want to set out today where those reflections have taken by.
:01:36. > :01:38.Before I do so, though, let me underlying two injuring points.
:01:39. > :01:42.Firstly, it remains my view and indeed the position of this
:01:43. > :01:46.government that at the end of the Brexit process, the people of
:01:47. > :01:50.Scotland should have a choice about our future direction as a country.
:01:51. > :01:56.Indeed, the implications of Brexit so potentially far reaching that as
:01:57. > :02:01.they become clearer, I think people will increasingly demand that
:02:02. > :02:05.choice. We face a Brexit that we did not vote for. And in a form more
:02:06. > :02:10.extreme than most would have imagined just one year ago. And now
:02:11. > :02:15.the terms of that Brexit are being negotiated by a UK Government with
:02:16. > :02:19.no clear mandate, precious little authority, and no real idea even
:02:20. > :02:26.within its own ranks of what it is seeking to achieve. While we must
:02:27. > :02:32.hope for the best, the reality is that with the UK Goverment's current
:02:33. > :02:35.approach, even a so-called good deal would be on terms substantially
:02:36. > :02:39.inferior to our current EU membership. Of course, there is now
:02:40. > :02:45.a real risk that the UK will crash out of the EU with no Deal, or a
:02:46. > :02:50.very bad deal. With deep and long-lasting consequences for jobs,
:02:51. > :02:54.trade, investment, living standards and the opportunities open to future
:02:55. > :02:59.generations. On top of all of that, as we saw so queerly in the deal
:03:00. > :03:09.struck with the DUP yesterday. -- as we saw so clearly. We now have a UK
:03:10. > :03:12.Government that talks about wanting to strengthen the bonds of the UK,
:03:13. > :03:15.but in reality is so desperate to cling on to power at any cost that
:03:16. > :03:17.it is prepared to ride roughshod over the very principles of the
:03:18. > :03:20.entire devolution settlement. If Scotland is not simply to be at the
:03:21. > :03:22.mercy of events, but instead in control of our own future, then the
:03:23. > :03:27.ability to choose a different direction must be available to us.
:03:28. > :03:30.Secondly, Presiding Officer, there is no doubt that the Scottish
:03:31. > :03:35.Government has a mandate to offer the people of Scotland that choice
:03:36. > :03:38.within this term of Parliament. We have now won not one but two
:03:39. > :03:44.elections with that explicit commitment in our manifesto. And the
:03:45. > :03:50.Scottish Parliament has also endorsed that position. By any
:03:51. > :03:56.normal standard of democracy, that mandate is beyond question.
:03:57. > :04:00.Opposition parties, no matter how strongly they disagree with us on
:04:01. > :04:03.independence, as is their right, should there. Trying to turn the
:04:04. > :04:13.basic rules of democracy on their head.
:04:14. > :04:26.The mandate we have is beyond doubt. But deciding exactly how and when to
:04:27. > :04:30.exercise it is a matter of judgment. And it is a judgment that must be
:04:31. > :04:36.made in the interest of the country as a whole. That is what I have been
:04:37. > :04:41.thinking carefully about. Before, during and since the election
:04:42. > :04:46.campaign, I have had hundreds of conversations with people in every
:04:47. > :04:54.part of Scotland on the issues of Brexit and a second independence
:04:55. > :04:59.referendum. Some people don't want a referendum ever because they oppose
:05:00. > :05:03.independence in all circumstances. I respect that position, it is
:05:04. > :05:09.entirely honourable and just as legitimate as those who support
:05:10. > :05:14.independence in all circumstances and want a referendum tomorrow. All
:05:15. > :05:19.people, probably the majority fall into neither of these categories.
:05:20. > :05:24.Having spoken to many people who voted yes in 2014 and too many
:05:25. > :05:28.others who did not but would be open-minded in the future, what
:05:29. > :05:32.struck me is the commonality of their views. They worry about the
:05:33. > :05:36.uncertainty of Brexit and the lack of any clarity whatsoever about what
:05:37. > :05:41.it means. Some of them want a break from the pressure of making big
:05:42. > :05:46.political decisions. They agree our future should not be imposed on us,
:05:47. > :05:51.but feel it is too soon to make a firm decision about the precise
:05:52. > :05:54.timing of a referendum. They want greater clarity about Brexit to
:05:55. > :05:59.emerge first and they want to be able to measure that up against
:06:00. > :06:03.clarity about the options Scotland would have for securing a different
:06:04. > :06:09.relationship with Europe. In the meantime, whatever their scepticism
:06:10. > :06:12.about the outcome of the negotiations, they want the Scottish
:06:13. > :06:17.Government to focus as hard as we can in securing the best possible
:06:18. > :06:20.outcome for Scotland. That view has even more fours now after the
:06:21. > :06:25.general election and the weakness of the UK Government has reopened the
:06:26. > :06:31.possibility, however narrow, of averting a hard Brexit and retaining
:06:32. > :06:36.membership of the single membership. -- market. I intend to listen to
:06:37. > :06:39.those views. The Scottish Government remains committed strongly to the
:06:40. > :06:45.principle of giving Scotland a choice at the end of this process. I
:06:46. > :06:50.want to reassure people our proposal is not for a referendum now, or
:06:51. > :06:54.before there is sufficient clarity of the options, but to give them a
:06:55. > :06:58.choice at the end of the Brexit process when that clarity has
:06:59. > :07:02.emerged. I am therefore confirming today, that having listened and
:07:03. > :07:08.reflected, the Scottish Government will reset the plan I set out on
:07:09. > :07:14.March the 13th. We will not seek to introduce the legislation for an
:07:15. > :07:18.independence referendum immediately. Instead, we will, in good faith,
:07:19. > :07:23.redouble our efforts and put our shoulder to the wheel in seeking to
:07:24. > :07:27.influence the Brexit talks in a way that protects Scotland's interests.
:07:28. > :07:31.We will seek to build maximum support around the proposals set out
:07:32. > :07:35.in the paper we published in December to keep us in the single
:07:36. > :07:40.market with substantial new powers for this parliament. We will do
:07:41. > :07:44.everything we can to influence the UK in that direction. Then at the
:07:45. > :07:52.end of this period of negotiation with the EU, likely to be around
:07:53. > :07:54.next autumn, when the terms of Brexit will be clearer, we will come
:07:55. > :07:58.back to Parliament to set out our judgments on the best way forward at
:07:59. > :08:01.that time, including our view on the precise timescale for offering
:08:02. > :08:07.people a choice over the country's future. I am also issuing a
:08:08. > :08:10.challenge to the other parties. The Scottish Government will stand the
:08:11. > :08:16.best chance of positively influencing the Brexit outcome if we
:08:17. > :08:20.are at the table with the full backing of our national parliaments,
:08:21. > :08:25.arguing for the sensible option of staying in the single market. Join
:08:26. > :08:29.us now with no equivocation, backed the demands for the democratically
:08:30. > :08:35.elected Scottish Government, to be at the table, able to influence the
:08:36. > :08:40.UK's negotiating strategy and for Scotland and the UK to stay in the
:08:41. > :08:44.European single market. Presiding officer, the second conclusion I
:08:45. > :08:55.have reached, is this. Over the past few months the focus of the when and
:08:56. > :08:57.the how of a referendum has inevitably been at the expense of
:08:58. > :08:59.setting out the many reasons why Scotland should be independent. The
:09:00. > :09:04.fact is, we are only talking of a referendum so soon after the last
:09:05. > :09:08.one because of Brexit. It is the case that independence may only be
:09:09. > :09:13.the only way to protect Scotland from the impact of Brexit. But the
:09:14. > :09:17.case for an independent Scotland goes far beyond Brexit. Many others
:09:18. > :09:22.believe independence is the right and the best answer to the many
:09:23. > :09:27.complex challenges we face as a country. And also the best way to
:09:28. > :09:31.seize and realise are many opportunities. We must persuade the
:09:32. > :09:36.majority in Scotland of that. We have not done that yet but I have no
:09:37. > :09:44.doubt that we can. The challenge for all of us who believe Scotland
:09:45. > :09:47.should be independent is to get on with the hard work of making and
:09:48. > :09:50.winning the case on all of its many merits and in a way that is relevant
:09:51. > :09:54.to the changes, challenges, hopes and opportunities we face now and in
:09:55. > :09:59.the years ahead. That is what we will do. Of course, we won't do it
:10:00. > :10:05.on our own because the independence case is bigger than us. My party
:10:06. > :10:10.will engage openly and work as part of the wider independence movement.
:10:11. > :10:13.We will seek to support, engage and grow that movement and build the
:10:14. > :10:20.case that having decisions made by us, not for us offers the best
:10:21. > :10:24.future for our country. We will seek to win the case that governing
:10:25. > :10:29.ourselves is the best way to tackle the challenges we face as a country,
:10:30. > :10:34.from building a better balanced and more sustainable economy, the
:10:35. > :10:38.growing the population, strengthening our democracy and
:10:39. > :10:42.tackling deep-seated problems of poverty and inequality. My last
:10:43. > :10:50.point is this, the SNP government has been in office for ten years...
:10:51. > :10:55.I am incredibly proud of our achievements, delivered in the most
:10:56. > :10:59.challenges of circumstances and in the face of unprecedented
:11:00. > :11:04.Westminster cuts. I am clear about our priorities as we move forward.
:11:05. > :11:08.Not just fighting Scotland's corner in the Brexit talks but growing our
:11:09. > :11:12.economy and making sure the public services we rely on are there when
:11:13. > :11:17.we need them from cradle to grave. That means continuing to work every
:11:18. > :11:22.day to improve education, equipped the NHS for the challenges of the
:11:23. > :11:26.future, lift people out of poverty and build a social security system
:11:27. > :11:31.with dignity at its heart. Of course, any government after ten
:11:32. > :11:36.years needs to take stock and refresh. So over this summer, as we
:11:37. > :11:40.prepare our next programme for government and the budget for the
:11:41. > :11:45.year ahead, that is exactly what we will do. We will set out a fresh
:11:46. > :11:49.vision for the country together with the creative, imaginative, bold and
:11:50. > :11:52.radical policies, but as far as is possible within the current powers
:11:53. > :11:57.available to us, will help us realise that bold ambition vision
:11:58. > :12:01.for Scotland. Presiding Officer, we look forward to getting on with the
:12:02. > :12:04.job in the best interest of all the people of Scotland.
:12:05. > :12:27.APPLAUSE Thank you, we now have about 30
:12:28. > :12:32.minutes for questions. 30 minutes for questions, a lot of interest.
:12:33. > :12:39.Ruth Davidson. I think the glum faces protest too much with extended
:12:40. > :12:44.applause. Since the 2014 referendum, nobody or anyone in this chamber has
:12:45. > :12:48.ever called for members of the SNP benches to revoke their belief in
:12:49. > :12:52.independence itself. But the issue we have had this last year has been
:12:53. > :12:58.with affairs minister who has tried to use the UK's decision to leave
:12:59. > :13:02.the European Union to impose another independent referendum on Scotland
:13:03. > :13:06.at the earliest opportunity. No Edinburgh agreement of respecting
:13:07. > :13:09.the results, just a single vision drive to the line by Nicola Sturgeon
:13:10. > :13:16.to try to secure her place in history. As our own MSPs have
:13:17. > :13:19.accepted, that decision cost 21 seats and the support of half a
:13:20. > :13:27.million Scottish voters in the general election. Yes, voters and no
:13:28. > :13:31.voters most people do want this brought back any time soon and none
:13:32. > :13:35.of the questions, none of the questions raised by Brexit are
:13:36. > :13:39.answered by ripping Scotland out of our own union of Nations, the
:13:40. > :13:44.biggest markets and closest friends. I am afraid today that that
:13:45. > :13:49.statement will fail to give any assurance to those people that this
:13:50. > :13:53.First Minister is listening to them. Again, she makes virtually no
:13:54. > :13:57.mention of her domestic responsibilities. Instead, she
:13:58. > :14:01.appears to be in denial about her mistakes this last year and as a
:14:02. > :14:06.result is leaking credibility and confidence in her leadership by the
:14:07. > :14:09.hour. Her response hasn't been to reflect, but lashed out at the UK
:14:10. > :14:14.Government at every opportunity and to sing the same old songs in the
:14:15. > :14:18.same old tune. Let me ask at this, she claims to be putting the
:14:19. > :14:22.referendum to one side and will not introduce the referendum bill to
:14:23. > :14:25.this parliament immediately. Why doesn't she get the country some
:14:26. > :14:37.certainty and take it off the table for the rest of this Parliament? The
:14:38. > :14:41.reason it would be wrong to take a referendum, choice over future of
:14:42. > :14:44.the table for the duration of this Parliament is this, the Conservative
:14:45. > :14:49.Government at Westminster are taking this entire country down a path that
:14:50. > :14:54.is potentially the most damaging thing that does happen to us for a
:14:55. > :14:58.generation or more than that. We don't yet know the destination of
:14:59. > :15:04.that journey, but what we do know is if the Tories get their way, the
:15:05. > :15:08.outcome of this could be devastating for Scottish jobs, trade, living
:15:09. > :15:12.standards and the opportunities of generations to come. I don't think
:15:13. > :15:16.it is right for Scotland to be left at the mercy of wherever the Tories
:15:17. > :15:22.want to take us, regardless of how damaging that is to our present and
:15:23. > :15:25.two our future. That is why I believe, at the end of this process,
:15:26. > :15:31.people should have the ability to have that choice. But equally, I
:15:32. > :15:35.recognise people do not feel ready right now to say when that choice
:15:36. > :15:40.should happen. Because of the uncertainty that has been created,
:15:41. > :15:45.not just by Brexit, but by the reckless approach to Brexit this
:15:46. > :15:51.government is pursuing. We will take account of that and listen to that
:15:52. > :15:56.and over the next months, we will do everything in our power, with
:15:57. > :16:00.absolute focus to try to get from Brexit, an outcome that best
:16:01. > :16:05.protects Scotland's interest. I repeat again my challenge to the
:16:06. > :16:08.other parties. If you also have Scotland's interests at heart, then
:16:09. > :16:13.get behind this government in seeking to be at the table,
:16:14. > :16:16.influencing these negotiations and getting the best outcome for
:16:17. > :16:25.Scotland. It used to be Ruth Davidson. Being in the EU was best
:16:26. > :16:29.for Scotland then she capitulated. Ruth Davidson used to think it was
:16:30. > :16:36.best Scotland to be in the single market, then she capitulated. For
:16:37. > :16:40.once, can Davidson stand firm and do the best deal for Scotland. We will
:16:41. > :16:45.continue to make decisions and make judgments we consider to be in the
:16:46. > :16:50.best interests of the country. And that is in stark contrast to the UK
:16:51. > :16:55.Government right now. Having blundered and miscalculated its way
:16:56. > :17:01.into an EU referendum and then into a hard Brexit position and then into
:17:02. > :17:06.a general election, it is now so desperate to cling to power at any
:17:07. > :17:11.cost, regardless of the damage that it's going to do to the economy, to
:17:12. > :17:18.the reputation of the country, to the devolution settlement and even
:17:19. > :17:24.to peace in Northern Ireland, it is a shameful approach to governing.
:17:25. > :17:29.And what is also shaming is Ruth Davidson is prepared to be a
:17:30. > :17:35.cheerleader for all of that. Ruth Davidson can continue to be a
:17:36. > :17:42.cheerleader, but I am the SNP will take the decisions which are in the
:17:43. > :17:46.best interests of Scotland. The First Minister says she has heard
:17:47. > :17:50.the views of the people. She has reflected on the rules of the
:17:51. > :17:54.general election and her incredulous conclusion is to double down and
:17:55. > :17:59.continue with her campaign from independence. But the truth is, the
:18:00. > :18:02.threat of an unwanted second independence referendum is dead. It
:18:03. > :18:05.didn't happen because Nicola Sturgeon wanted it to, the people of
:18:06. > :18:16.Scotland have taken that decision for her. But the First Minister is
:18:17. > :18:20.digging her heels in, putting her fingers in her ears and pressing on
:18:21. > :18:24.regardless. She is just not listening. First Minister, why don't
:18:25. > :18:28.you understand the people of Scotland sent you a clear message at
:18:29. > :18:32.the general election dosh get back to governing. When will you listen
:18:33. > :18:39.get on with the job that matters, improving schools, growing the
:18:40. > :18:46.economy and fixing the NHS. What is clear is Kezia Dugdale scripted the
:18:47. > :18:52.question before she saw or listened to the statement I have just made.
:18:53. > :18:54.We will not proceed with legislation for an independence referendum
:18:55. > :18:58.immediately. We will do everything in our power to get the best
:18:59. > :19:02.possible outcome from Brexit, we will do everything in our power to
:19:03. > :19:07.protect Scotland's interests. At the end of that process we will judge
:19:08. > :19:10.the best way forward to make sure Scotland is not at the mercy of the
:19:11. > :19:16.outcome of that process, regardless of how damaging it is going to be.
:19:17. > :19:20.The difference between my position and Kezia Dugdale's position is
:19:21. > :19:25.simple, I want Scotland to be in control of our future. I don't want
:19:26. > :19:29.to just have to accept any decision impose on us by a Tory government at
:19:30. > :19:34.Westminster regardless of the damage. I want us to be in control
:19:35. > :19:38.of our own future as a country. Labour, simply having advised many
:19:39. > :19:42.people in Scotland to vote the Conservatives, want to lead the
:19:43. > :19:46.future of our country entirely at the mercy of the Conservatives. That
:19:47. > :19:47.is the difference and that will continue to be the difference
:19:48. > :20:00.between our two parties. Patrick Harvie. Thank you, Presiding
:20:01. > :20:05.Officer. Scotland has not consented to being taken out of the European
:20:06. > :20:10.Union against our will. Scotland has not consented to the social and
:20:11. > :20:15.economic wreckage which we know will result if that is what happens. If
:20:16. > :20:21.the First Minister does not introduce a Referendum Bill until
:20:22. > :20:26.after autumn next year, how long will it be after we've been dragged
:20:27. > :20:29.out of Europe, without having consented to it, before the people
:20:30. > :20:36.of Scotland or even entitled to make their choice? And why, after a
:20:37. > :20:39.negotiation between a UK Government and EU institutions, and decisions
:20:40. > :20:43.made by every other member state in Europe, why should the people of
:20:44. > :20:49.Scotland be the only people without the right to make a decision on that
:20:50. > :20:53.timescale? Well, I believe Scotland should have a choice at the end of
:20:54. > :20:58.this process, but I recognise that the uncertainty around this process,
:20:59. > :21:01.which is not of our making all our doing, it's entirely down to the
:21:02. > :21:05.incompetent, reckless approach being taken by the UK Government. But that
:21:06. > :21:08.uncertainty makes it difficult for those, even those who do want to
:21:09. > :21:14.have a choice at the end of this process, to see right now how we can
:21:15. > :21:17.set a firm timescale for that. And I recognise that, which is why I've
:21:18. > :21:22.said today we are resetting the plan that I outlined on March the 13th.
:21:23. > :21:25.We will not introduce that legislation right now. We will put
:21:26. > :21:28.our shoulder to the wheel of seeking to get the best deal for Scotland,
:21:29. > :21:33.then we will make a judgment on the right time for a choice when we have
:21:34. > :21:36.that clarity. Which on the timescale that is being followed right now, I
:21:37. > :21:40.would estimate will be around the autumn of next year. I think that is
:21:41. > :21:49.the sensible and responsible way forward. What that does is two
:21:50. > :21:53.things. Firstly, it recognises the desire of the information to make an
:21:54. > :21:57.informed choice. Something that I never wanted people to have to do
:21:58. > :22:01.but I'm making that absolutely clear today. But secondly, it does
:22:02. > :22:04.something else. It makes sure that we have the ability to protect our
:22:05. > :22:08.interests at the end of this process. And I appreciate that for
:22:09. > :22:13.many people, the real implications and impact of Brexit haven't started
:22:14. > :22:17.to be felt. I suspect that is about to start to change and to change
:22:18. > :22:20.very quickly. But as First Minister, I cannot look at anybody across this
:22:21. > :22:24.country in the eye and pretend to them but I do not have profound
:22:25. > :22:29.concerns about the impact of what is about to happen on people in
:22:30. > :22:35.Scotland, not just now but for many, many years to come. Now, to choose
:22:36. > :22:38.that would be one thing. But to have that imposed upon us, firstly
:22:39. > :22:42.through the EU referendum, and then having no choice at the end of the
:22:43. > :22:46.process, would be deeply and profoundly wrong. So what I'm doing
:22:47. > :22:49.today is balancing those interests, recognising that people do not want
:22:50. > :22:54.to be rushed, that it is not simply for me to decide the future of this
:22:55. > :22:57.country, but making sure that it is equally not for a Conservative
:22:58. > :22:59.government at Westminster to decide the future of this country
:23:00. > :23:07.regardless of what anybody across Scotland might want. Willie Rennie.
:23:08. > :23:12.The First Minister has had a long hard think about it. And the First
:23:13. > :23:14.Minister has concluded that the First Minister should call another
:23:15. > :23:20.independence reverend at a time of the First Minister's choosing. --
:23:21. > :23:23.another referendum. Absolutely nothing has changed. If she wants to
:23:24. > :23:28.prove she has listened, the First Minister should trigger a vote in
:23:29. > :23:31.this chamber, which would rule out another independence referendum in
:23:32. > :23:40.this parliamentary term. Will she agree to that? He's finished?! Well,
:23:41. > :23:44.I have to say, since Willie Rennie didn't seem to get any respect when
:23:45. > :23:47.the Scottish Parliament did vote on this matter, then why would we
:23:48. > :23:50.expect him to respect the vote of the Scottish Parliament in the
:23:51. > :23:57.future? It seems Willie Rennie wants to begin choose when he respects the
:23:58. > :24:00.will of this Parliament. On the issue of a referendum, Willie
:24:01. > :24:04.Rennie's position... You know, I don't agree with the positions of
:24:05. > :24:07.the Conservatives or Labour, they want to leave this country at the
:24:08. > :24:13.mercy of whatever happens at Brexit, regardless of how damaging it is.
:24:14. > :24:17.But at least the positions have a degree of consistency and logic to
:24:18. > :24:21.them. There is no consistency and no logic whatsoever on the position of
:24:22. > :24:25.the Liberal Democrats on this issue. They don't want to give people in
:24:26. > :24:27.Scotland a choice on another referendum, but they wanted a second
:24:28. > :24:33.referendum on the issue of EU membership. Willie Rennie's position
:24:34. > :24:34.is ridiculous, which is why so few people across this country take him
:24:35. > :24:49.all the Liberal Democrats seriously. Skills education... Or actually have
:24:50. > :24:52.a vision for technical education that centred an actual technical
:24:53. > :24:53.education. And