07/04/2017: First Minister's Questions Politics Scotland

election and was challenged to commit to the promise made in the

manifesto and wouldn't do it. She was challenged to save the Tories

would have a commitment to the triple lock on pensions in the

manifesto and she wouldn't do that either. I think we should look very

closely at the commitments the Tories make and also the commitments

the Tories do not make at this election. Let me just say this is

secondly, I support the work that DFID does around the world, helping

many to get contraception, but I find it abhorrent that as DFID does

things like that overseas, this government is forcing women to prove

they have been raped before they get access to benefits for their

children. So I will give... I will give Ruth Davidson a chance today -

do not pass the buck, tells Scotland straight, do you support the rape

clause in principle or do you, like me, think it is utterly abhorrent?

Answer the question. Ruth Davidson. I will answer the question, if the

First Minister doesn't like the two child tax policy, she can change it.

But the truth is this First Minister is always happier, always happier

complaining about the UK Government than she is about doing anything

herself. The fact is that the way the SNP is readying itself to poor

negativity on this country is shameful. She might not like it but

Scotland is part of this United Kingdom, and if the First Minister

really wants to set out her stall at this election, isn't practical

vision of how she is governing Scotland the very least that we

should all expect? Or given away education and the economy is going,

is she just banking the fact Scots will buy it? Shame on Ruth Davidson.

And shame on the Conservatives. We have just seen in this chamber the

true colours of Ruth Davidson and the Conservatives. Given the

opportunity to stand up clearly and join others in this chamber and say

that the rape clause, a clause that forces a woman to prove she has been

raped before claiming benefits for her children is morally and in

principle wrong, Ruth Davidson refuses to do so. That is utterly

shameful. And I think it brings into sharp focus, presiding officer, it

brings into sharp focus the key issue at the heart of this general

election. I ask people to think about this. The rape clause has been

introduced by a Tory government at Westminster with a tiny majority. If

that is what the Tory government can do with a tiny majority, let's just

think of the damage a Tory government can do, and unfettered,

out-of-control Tory government can do with it -- can do with a bigger

majority. If the people want a strong opposition to a Tory

government, they won't get it from Labour, they won't get it from the

Lib Dems who still say they would support a Tory government, they will

only get it from the SNP and Scotland needs protection from the

Tories. Presiding officer, in the weeks ahead these benches will set

out our vision of the United Kingdom which is a force for good in the

world and we will stand up for Scotland's decision to stay in the

United Kingdom. We will say no to a second referendum so that Scotland

can get on with building better schools and better public services.

But what about the SNP's plans? The First Minister's first intervention

in this election is to say she would put Jeremy Corbyn in number ten. Is

it because uniquely the First Minister sees in Mr Corbyn the

wisdom and foresight and leadership skills that are needed in a Prime

Minister? Or could it be because in his own words Jeremy Corbyn is

absolutely fine with another referendum on independence? Is that

the alliance she was really seeking down in London? This is pretty tired

stuff from the Tories. You only have to take one look at the polls to

know that Jeremy Corbyn ain't going anywhere near number ten. That

brings us back to the core issue, presiding Officer, because of the on

electability of Labour. Scotland faces the prospect of an unfettered

out-of-control Tory government and we know the damage that can do to

Scotland, to our budget, to the vulnerable, to the pensions, to our

economy, so that's the choice for Scotland. Vote SNP to make sure

Scotland's voice is heard and Scotland has protection against the

Tories because the problem for Ruth Davidson, as she has so clearly set

out today, Scotland knows the Tory vision for Scotland, the rape

clause, penalising the government, taking motor ability vehicles away

from disabled people. People across Scotland no provision and the

programme of the Tories and that's why people in Scotland know that if

they want protection against that Tory vision, they must vote SNP.

Kezia Dugdale. To ask the First Minister what engagements she has

planned for the rest of the week. In recent weeks the First Minister has

joined me in calling out the horrific rape clause, has accused

Theresa May of undermining devolution. She has just told us

that we have seen what damage a Tory government can do. So why did the

SNP abstain yesterday instead of voting with Labour to get rid of

this Tory government? I hate to be the one that has to point it out,

Kezia Dugdale. It wasn't the SNP that voted with the Tories yesterday

in the House of Commons, it was Labour who trooped through the

lobbies with the Tories yesterday. You know the lobby I mean, it's that

one that had turkeys in Christmas written above it. The idea in this

election that Labour is going to replace the Tories is frankly tie in

the sky. The issue and the threat at this election is that due to

Labour's unelectability, we face an unfettered, out-of-control Tory

government. We know the Prime Minister wants to silence opposition

so the question for Scotland is, if you want a strong opposition to the

Tories, if you want MPs who will be a voice for Scotland, the only party

to support at this election is the SNP.

Labour MPs voted yesterday to get rid of this miserable Tory

government. And imagine my surprise that the SNP MPs did not do the

same. The First Minister has said that she want an honest debate, so

let's have it. It suits the SNP for the Tories to stay in power. That is

why they refused to vote Theresa May out of office yesterday. Everyday

Tories remain in power, 430,000 Scots go without a real living wage.

Women do without the pension they have worked their whole lives for.

Young people have their housing benefit stripped away from them. It

suits the SNP for the Tories to stay in power. The only thing the SNP

have ever cared about its independence. So, tell us First

Minister, on the 8th of June, what is more important? Kicking the

Tories out of office or having another divisive referendum?

Presiding officer, Jeremy Corbyn is unelectable and will leave Labour

carping from the sidelines. How do we know that? Because that is what

Casilla Dugdale said about Jeremy Corbyn. I agree with her about how

awful and how damaging this Tory government is. That is why I think

it is so utterly shameful and disgraceful that Labour have allowed

themselves to get in the position that this lot are 20 points ahead of

them in opinion bowls UK wide and are even ahead of them in Scotland

as well. That is Labour's failure and it is an utter disgrace. It

brings us back to the core point at stake in this election. The only

thing in this election standing between an out of control,

unfettered Tory government and Scotland is the SNP. If people want

to make sure that the Tory government can be held to account,

if they want to make sure there is a strong voice for Scotland and if

they want to make sure Scotland is protected against the kind of

policies that Casilla Dugdale talks about, they have to make sure they

sent SNP MPs back to Westminster. It was the First Minister in 2015 who

told Scotland food SNP to keep the Tories out. How is that going? Can I

say to her, in all seriousness if Jeremy Corbyn was Prime Minister,

there would be no great cause, that would be no more housing benefit

cuts and there would be no more austerity and I will proudly

campaign for that over the next six weeks as she campaigns for

independence. Can I say, the last time we voted in a general election,

Nicola Sturgeon said this, I have made it very clear that if you vote

SNP in this election, that is not a vote for independence, nor is it a

vote for another referendum. Time and time again we were told that a

vote for the SNP is not a vote for another referendum. With the First

Minister have the decency to tell the voters before the food that she

will use this election as another excuse for a divisive referendum

were once again when she went on to the day after? Demanded for another

referendum was sought and won at the Scottish Parliament elections last

year. This election is about who will stand up for Scotland against

the Tories. It is about who will stop the Tories silencing and

crushing the opposition. She has got the nerve to stand up and somehow

blame the SNP for the fact that the Tories didn't lose the election

in... I am almost speechless. But the SNP is to blame for the fact the

Tories won the election in 2015. It was Labour's fault. If Labour had

won every seat in Scotland they would still have lost to the Tories

across the UK. Labour or unelectable and utterly useless. That is the

tragedy of UK politics right now. It brings us back to the central point.

The only thing in this election, and I would ask every voter out there to

think about this seriously, the Tories want everyone to think there

is a safe tactical Tory vote they can cast in this election, but every

single Tory vote cast in Scotland will help Theresa May made sure that

she has the ability to do what ever she wants. If you do not want an

out-of-control Tory government, if you want protection, if you want a

strong opposition and a strong voice against the Tories then you have to

make sure you vote SNP in Scotland. To ask the First Minister what

issues will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cabinet. Issues of

importance to the people of Scotland. The SNP deputy leader

struggled to explain his party's Europe policy on the radio

yesterday. Five times he was asked what policy would be in the

manifesto for the general election. Five times asked, five times he was

not able to answer. He became so desperate he even asked all the

listeners to write in with suggestions. It was answers on a

postcard. The First Minister has a chance to influence this. Does she

wandered through membership of the European Union in the SNP manifesto?

The policy of the SNP on Europe is absolutely clear. We want Scotland

to remain members of the European Union. I don't think there is

anybody who could have missed that over the past few months. It is

interesting, because Willie Rennie somehow tries to criticise me when I

have said and what Scotland and the UK to remain in the EU, but I think

what is really important is that we prioritise membership of the single

market. It is interesting that he criticises me for that because it is

what Tim Farren, his own leader says. He wants the UK to stay in the

single market, the priority is staying in the single market. There

is no doubt about my policy. I want to remain in the EU. The dove is

what on earth the EU -- S -- Liberal Democrat policy is. Why can't she

said it will be in the manifesto then? She is dodging, just like

Angus yesterday. The Liberal Democrats are crystal clear. We want

Scotland in the heart of the United Kingdom and the United Kingdom in

the heart of Europe. The general election is a chance to change the

course of the whole of the United Kingdom. The more liberal Democrat

MPs elected, the greater chance we have of changing the direction of

the country. Just like the moment she joined the SNP all those years

ago, the First Minister has only ever cared about independence. We

know what she and her government property. She is trying to get

Brexit supporters back on side so she is going soft on Europe. It is

fair to ask if EU membership will be in the manifesto. So, what is the

answer? Is she going to tell us? Let me try it in simple words. I support

membership of the European Union. Surely even Willie Rennie can

understand that. There was another politician dodging questions

yesterday, wasn't there? I saw Tim Farren challenged in the House of

Commons by Stewart McDonald, one of my excellent colleagues in

Westminster and Tim Farren was challenging, was challenged, to rule

out supporting a Tory government and he refused to do so. There we have

it, presiding officer. Labour is unelectable. The Liberal Democrat

propped the Tories up for five years and will not rule out doing it

again. If you want to have Scottish interests heard against the Tories,

if you want Scotland protected against the Tories come if you want

a party who stand up against the Tories then there is only one party

who will do SNP. -- do that. The SNP. How is the Scottish Government

standing up for human rights in the face of Tory attempt to scrap the

Human Rights Act? We will oppose vigorously any attempt to scrap the

Human Rights Act and we know if the Tories get their way that is what

they want to do, which makes it all the more ironic that with Davidson

is talking about work overseas, one of the worst thing is the Tories

could do and the message we could send internationally is to row back

on the human rights and we will always oppose that and stand up for

human rights. Will the First Minister confirm that airport

expansion, new flight route and the scrapping of air passenger duty are

all government policy? Does she agree with me that it is hypocrisy

for MSP is, MPs and government ministers to pretender to their

constituents that they oppose these policies when all the while they

compliantly folded through in Cabinet? I want Scotland to have the

best connections with the rest of the world because that is good for

people in Scotland, it is also good for our businesses seeking to expand

and exported overseas. I make no apology for what they are aviation

connections, as well as our other transport connections to be as good

as they possibly can be. I am clear about our responsibilities to tackle

climate change and this government and parliament should be proud for

the world leading action it is taking to tackle climate change. To

ask the First Minister whether she will provide an update on her visit

to the United States? Yes. I visited the United States between the second

and 7th of April, attending events and meetings in California and New

York. I was promoting Scottish innovation, entrepreneurship and

culture. The relationship between Scotland and America is an important

point with a deep ties reflected by the strong economic and personal

links of our citizens. This visit was an important opportunity to

ensure businesses and visitors from the US that Scotland is an outward

looking, welcoming country remains very open for business. I think the

First Minister for that answer. I was particularly pleased to see

climate action high on the agenda with the First Minister signing a

conflicted with the governor of California. In the Highlands and

Islands, renewables are transforming communities, creating a climate and

help us meet our targets. When the Tories at Westminster trash

subsidies for green energy, how can we continue to meet our global

obligations to tackling climate change in partnership with allies

around the world? It is important to stress that Scotland is making huge

progress in delivering our climate change emissions but we still have

much to achieve the stuff I did meet with the governor of California in

the years to discuss how our two administrations could work together

to achieve our shared ambition of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

We have pledged to cut emissions by 20% 2015 and we have discussed the

importance of offshore wind in tackling climate change and agreed

to share knowledge and best practice in developing this technology. We

have also offered to help the under two coalition representing 2 billion

people to prepare for a summit in 2018 in the Chris Grayling national

governments to increase efforts to tackle climate change. There is no

doubt that many of the policies of this current UK Government fly in

the face of our efforts to tackle climate change. One of the other

reasons it is so important we have voices in Westminster are looking

for the policies that will support us, not hinder us in meeting these

ambitions. I was amused to see the First Minister under a banner

describing herself as the Queen of Scots. It is not quite how I here

described nearer to home. The Speaker of the United States, Paul

Ryan, is currently in London and has made clear the United States

government wishes to come to an expedited trade arrangement with the

United Kingdom when we leave the European Union. Can I ask the First

Minister when she was in the United States, what formal discussions with

the government of the United States but future trade relationships and

what assurances she given to them that the Scottish Government would

do everything they could to ensure the early trading is arrived at? I

am glad Jackson Carlo watched the women in the world Summit that he

mentions, because I hope he also heard during that some of horror

from the audience, the very large audience that were there listening,

when I outlined the real cause policy that had come into effect. He

says I misrepresented it. Let me set out very clear for the chamber. The

rear doors policy puts an obligation on a woman to prove that she has

been raped if she wanted to claim tax credits for more than two

children. If Jackson Carlo thinks that is a misrepresentation by

infighting to come to this chamber and tell us exactly what the root

cause policy den entails and to do it as Ruth Davison failed to do and

have the courage to say it is morally reprehensible to have such a

policy on the statute book. On the issue, I met with a number of

businesses and other economic interests in the United States. I

did not have meetings with the US government, this was a trade and

investment focused desert. In every conversation I had the message was

clear that Scotland remains open for business and it is all the more

important, given the practical sessions of the Tories, that we get

that message out to the United States and every country across the

world. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government

response is to the reports of... Found in school buildings. The

health and safety of students in schools is of paramount importance.

Following the publication of the independent enquiry into Edinburgh

school construction Minister for local government wrote to all local

authorities had it in the issues and recommendations the report raised us

of the importance of adhering to building regulations, technical

standards and the inspection processes which are in place to

protect the public. The minister wrote to and let the leaders in the

construction industry to ensure the construction industry to ensure they

are aware of the findings and recommendations in the report and

ensure we can rely on quality workmanship and control processes. I

think the First Minister for that answer. I accept it is local

authorities who have the statutory responsibility for school buildings.

The Scottish Government surely feel has a duty to ensure that those

responsibilities are deployed following the publication of the

Edinburgh schools report. That is indeed what I red this safety issues

regarding with campus with the First Minister on the 26th of January this

year which she chose the sideline. Can the First Minister about explain

why it has taken problems in 72 schools across Scotland for the

Scottish Government to take this matter seriously? Will she now

provide unequivocal guarantee that all work is being done with local

authorities to ensure that all buildings, school buildings, are

safe across Scotland? A number of points. I know later on Logan

Tomkins is going to ask a question challenging me to leave

responsibilities that are not those of the Scottish Government

specifically to local authorities and not interfere in local authority

responsibilities. There is a bit of a constituency issue. I accept the

Scottish Government has responsibilities, that is what I set

out the action the Scottish Government has taken and I would say

could remember, we did that with the independent report. We want to local

authorities in the way I described shortly after the school situation

arose last year. We acted promptly as the public would have expected us

to do. It is also important to note that none of the schools requiring

remedial work was built under our schools programme. These are

historic school building projects, but nevertheless, here we have got

to make sure that all school buildings are safe and that lessons

from previous PFI programmes are properly learned and implemented in

the future and the government is absolutely determined that we will

discharge our responsibility to do so. Of course, these clues in

question were built by Labour and the Liberal Democrats under PFI. The

First Minister will know that perish the Lieberman Council, schools with

the construction cost of 81 million. 401 million will have to be paid in

charges to the companies who built them, including 2.7 million this

year. That is the equivalent of buying and ?81,000 flat, and a

mortgage for 30 years and then not even going to get at the end of the

30 years. Does the First Minister agreed that the reckless handling of

the public finances were never in office continues to rob us of funds

which could be used to predict would building on Google services and it

is high time they've apologised for the legacy of incontinence. The left

for schools and local authorities across Scotland. Yes, yes I do. When

I think it is fair to point out that the enquiry said the financing

method was not in itself responsible for defective construction, it does

state that the implementation of the contract for the partners involved

could have been stronger. Questions must be asked and in due course

answered about all PFI contract that many at the time period put profits

before quality. The cost of the disastrous Labour PFI deals are

still taking significant sums of money away from vital public

services. This government is determined to secure maximum value

for money in existing PFI contracts. The Scottish futures trust work on

behalf of ministers and have done so for some time with public bodies to

identify the scope to improve the efficiency and performance of these

contracts and this work will continue. I do think this whole

episode raises serious questions for previous Labour administrations and

perhaps one day they will have to answer and apologise. This is an

issue which has had a distinct impact on my constituency. One year

ago Saint Peter 's premises had to send its pupils elsewhere. The body

has good had to close. Dozens of families had to send their children

to other schools. The underlying issue was the failure of contractors

to install it was properly. A failure that was not picked up by

building control and indeed we now learn that there are scores of

school buildings across Scotland which similarly have structural

faults, begin which would feel it to be picked up by building control.

Clearly there are issues about the science of procedure, he went

building control box and the safety checks. Can the First Minister tell

Parliament what changes and reviews will the middle of the building

control processing machine? That is a very fair question. I want to

respond to two aspects. Firstly, to recognise the disruption this caused

for pupils across Edinburgh last year. The independent report does

say the educational impact on children is likely to have been

limited, but I don't think that takes away from the disruption and

the concern pupils and parents had last year, especially for older

pupils who would have needed exams. I think everybody deeply regrets

that. Secondly the issue about scrutiny of work and building

control processes is also one calf to reflect very carefully on. We

have got to make sure there is an appropriate level of independent

scrutiny of building work. The government is reviewing all existing

guidance on appropriate supervision and contract management so we can be

assured that best practice is available as a matter of course

construction projects. These are schools that were not under our

government, but that does not change the fact that as the incumbent

government now we have the nature of the regular lessons are learned and

those lessons are applied in future and we are determined that we will

do that. To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government

response is to reports of sexually exploitative behaviour in the

private rented housing sector? I was extremely concerned, horrified

actually, to red the reports the number refers to the Minister for

Housing has already written to the website concerned that hosted these

adverts asking them to take action. As a government was already taking

action to tackle issues like this to the implementation of equally safe,

our strategy to tackle any violence against women and girls and we are

also taking action to prove the availability of housing for everyone

and action to tackle poverty and inequality which can so often the

people vulnerable to being exploited in this kind of way. Any person

always has the right to refuse to consent to sexual activity and

forcing someone in any way to participate in sexual activity is a

crime. We continue to keep those laws under review the nature of they

are fit for purpose in tackling what I think are unacceptable behaviours.

I think the First Minister for response. We know these sacks for

rent adverts have been posted on line for properties in Scotland but

we have no way of how many tenants are in these arrangements. As the

First Minister says, the practice opens the door to fondle tenants who

are facing homelessness and poverty and find themselves in exploitative

arrangements. I welcome the report of the action taken by the Housing

Minister, but can I ask what action the government will take to ensure

that any landlords who are found to be offering such arrangements are

properly dealt with? More specifically, what action is being

taken to the equally safe project and also, have they had time to have

discussions with groups supporting vulnerable women who are seeking

accommodation, to raise awareness of these exploited of practices? We

will look carefully at what action we can take further to what we are

already doing across these areas. The Minister would be happy to meet

ministers discuss this in more detail if that would be of interest.

She raises the situation of landlords and where landlords are

behaving unacceptably then clearly there are provisions to seek a deal

with that. I suspect in cases like the one she is highlighting often

the problem will be there is no formal tenancy agreement. These

informal arrangements which doesn't make them any more acceptable, much

less so in fact. Sometimes that would be one of the challenges.

These are not formal arrangements with is a recognised landlord.

Nevertheless, these are serious issues. There are wider issues

involved around this kind of thing. I will undertake to ensure that the

minister considers all suggestions made by the member and the offer of

a meeting stands. I recognise the First Minister acknowledges that not

all of these circumstances will involve the registered landlord, but

in order to register and return to comply with the fit and proper

person test. Isn't it clear that any such excluded arrangements should

lead to an automatic feel of the fit and proper person test and

verification of any existing landlord registration? I think my

answer that would be yes. I struggle to see how anyone in this as an

advocate of this description would pass the fit and proper person test.

Jakati and other members will be aware that there is a proper

statutory legal process that local authorities had to go through before

they can take landlord status with somebody and I couldn't in any

situation pre-empt that, but I think we all agreed about the

acceptability of the examples brought to's attention. Just as I

did with the previous member, I will undertake to discuss this with the

Member two nature that it take ever action are able to take. To ask the

First Minister what the position is of the Scottish Government on the

view that local authorities should be responsible for all matters not

specifically reserved to the Scottish Parliament which might be

the Tories should practice what they preach but occasionally on these

issues. Local authority responsibilities are very clearly

set out and the focus of the Scottish Government is on

encouraging councils to empower communities across the country,

because it is important that we do not just consider what our local

authorities should have, but also how local authorities can transfer

more of their power to local communities. That is why our

community empowerment act puts additional powers into the hands of

communities and local authorities to account and we are discussing how to

achieve our aim of having at least 1% of council budgets decided in

this way, building on the work of over ?2 million community choices

fund. He argued in our manifesto yesterday

the council should focus on growing. Citizen are being given

opportunities to do that from the northern powerhouse. Can you

identify a single power that would allow the city is here to do the

same? Local authorities have the power of general competence. There

is nothing standing in the way of local authorities getting on with

the job they should be doing and many are doing well in terms of

growing their local economy. As members are aware, we have

delivered, sometimes in partnership with the UK city deals, so were not

only making sure there is devolved power in the hands of authorities

but there is substantial initial investment to do the things that

will support economic growth. We will continue to do that and I look

forward to seeing many more city deals in the year ahead, not least

the city of Edinburgh and the surrounding areas. I am a great

believer in giving local authorities the powers and resources they need

to do the job in local communities but I don't want to see Powers

stopped at local authorities, real community empowerment is important

which is why the community Parliament act is so important. I

welcome the reform Scotland paper which contains a lot with which the

Green party agrees. We believe local government should have a greater

fiscal autonomously than it does do and some weeks ago we published

proposals for the fiscal framework between Scottish Government and

local government. Does the First Minister agree that as the Scottish

Parliament gets more fiscal autonomy, so too should the

relationships be mirrored with local government? I think there is merit

in that and ahead of the Scottish elections last year we did indicate

a to talk to local authorities about what additional tax powers would

live better with them rather than the Scottish Government. Local

authorities have already got autonomy in terms of the ability to

lower business rates if they think that is one of the things that would

help grow the economy so this is a discussion that the government is

very willing to have and obviously we have local government elections

in a couple of weeks' time and after those elections with new

administrations, hopefully, in some parts of the country that is a

discussion we can take forward with new administrations with councils

the length and breadth of the country. Back in 2007 the First

Minister said the council tax was unfair and no amount of the council

tax could make it fair. Does she believe today that the council tax

is still unfair or has the time coding and the bands made it fairer?

Rebranding has made council tax fairer but I would say two things.

During the first term of the SNP administration labour blocked the

abolition of the council tax so it ill behoves them now to stand here

and argue for it. But the second point I would make about this

position underlines the hypocrisy. Labour punished the manufacture last

week, and in page six it says this, the SNP council -- council tax

freeze has crippled local government. As well as being

complete nonsense, that statement is utter hypocrisy. And I'll tell you

why it is hypocrisy. Right now in Scotland there are only eight

council administration is proposing a continuation of the council tax

freeze. Guess what, every single one of those is a labour lead counsel.

There you have it. Labour might say one thing in the chamber about the

council tax but across the country the administrations do the opposite.

That concludes First Minister's Questions. There we have it.

Elections, indeed but closing with a discussion about local elections and

we will talk about other contests later. Let me chat to my colleagues.

We can talk about the local elections first. Quite an effective

attack by the First Minister on the business of the council tax in

response to Alex Riley. It is a weakness because the SNP can always

come back to saying the Labour Party opposed us when we tried to abolish

the council tax so you can't ask any questions. There is the question of

eight Labour councils deciding not to raise the council tax. It is easy

for the SNP and Nicola Sturgeon to rebut the criticisms with that even

though there are legitimate criticisms. Do these council

elections have stops tonnes in their own right in terms of the way the

party is treating them or are they proxies for the general election --

proxies. What was interesting about the response was that the fault line

for the council elections is very much the SNP against Labour. Labour

are still hanging on to a number of authorities in western and central

Scotland. The SNP have labour in their sights

when they come to the council elections but the rhetoric for the

big election say it is a two horse race between the SNP and

conservatives. The SNP are putting their guns on Labour in one

conservatives in the other and keeping them distinct. Let's remind

ourselves what was going on in this remarkable week. We have council

elections on the 4th of May but also the prospect of a general election

on the June the 8th. Here is the key figures setting out their stall. I

have just chaired a meeting of the Cabinet where we agree that the

government should call a general election to be held on the 8th of

June. I want to explain the reasons for that decision. Britain is

leaving the European Union. And there can be no turning back. And as

we look to the future, the government has the right plan for

negotiating our new relationship with Europe. We want a deep and

special partnership between a strong and successful European Union and

the United Kingdom that is free to chart its own way in the world. That

means we will regain control of our own money, our own laws and that own

borders. And we will be free to strike trade deals with old friends

and new partners all around the world. This is the right approach.

And it is in the national interest. But the other political parties

oppose it. At this moment of enormous national significance there

should be unity here in Westminster but instead there is division the

country is coming together, but Westminster is not. In recent weeks

Labour have threatened to vote against the final agreement we reach

with the European Union. The Liberal Democrats have said that they want

to grind of government to a standstill. The Scottish National

Party say they will vote against the legislation that formally repeals

membership of the European Union. An unelected members of the House of

Lords have vowed to fight us every step of the way. Our opponents

believe because the government majority is so small that our

resolve will weaken and they can force us to change course. They are

wrong. They underestimate our determination to get the job done.

And I am not prepared to let them endanger the security of millions of

working people across the country because what they are doing

jeopardises the work we must do to prepare for Brexit at home. And it

weakens the government negotiating position in Europe. If we do not

hold a general election now, their political gameplaying will continue.

And the negotiations with the European Union will reach their most

difficult stage in the run-up to the next scheduled election. Division in

Westminster will risk the ability to make a success of Brexit and it will

cause damaging uncertainty and instability to the country, so we

need a general election and we need one now. This is the biggest U-turn

in recent political history but it's clear that the announcement from the

Prime Minister is all about a narrow interests of our own party and not

the interests of the country overall. She clearly sees the

opportunity given the total disarray in the ranks of the Labour Party to

cross opposition to her and get rid of people who disagree and give

herself a free hand to take the country in an increasingly

right-wing direction that she wants, and that would not mean just the

hardest possible Brexit but more austerity. Now is the time for the

Scottish voice to be heard and for Scottish people to stand up for the

Scotland we want, and that is a campaign I look forward to leading

in the weeks ahead. There we have had from the Prime Minister and

First Minister. Today we have the parties challenging the First

Minister and it was all about the general election from the leaders.

Let's go through them one by one. Let's start with the exchanges with

Ruth Davidson. She wanted to talk about age to foreign countries in

the context of the UK and the First Minister turned it very quickly into

an attack on what is known as the right clause. It was a confusing

contribution from Ruth Davison. I was struggling to get the analogy

which went between foreign aid and then John McAlpine's column on

calling the UK Hell on Earth. There was a link made, but it wasn't

obvious. It is very easy, the rate clause is going on, and there have

been cause for Ruth Davison to make a statement, and she has said she

supports it, but Nicola Sturgeon can probably go on for weeks bringing up

that clause because it is so controversial. And all Ruth Davison

would say in response was that it Nicola Sturgeon dislikes the

proposals in the approach she can turn it around using those powers.

She is in an uncomfortable situation. You have a UK Government

which introduced something which looks pretty bad and I think Ruth

Davidson knows that but she has to back the UK Government. She said at

the Scottish Government don't like it they have the power is now to

change it here but that does not get her off the hook. What was

interesting today was that she allowed Nicola Sturgeon to throw

that question back, what are you going to do about the rate clause,

and she came back with an answer that allowed Nicola Sturgeon to go

at it. We have then seen one of the main SNP lines of argument that we

will see over the next seven weeks, to try and exploit that go on and

say, if the Tory government with a small majority can do this, what

more can it do if you give it unfettered majority? This brings me

to the almost philosophical point, the presumption on all sides, except

perhaps the Labour Party, that Theresa May is heading to be

returned to Downing Street and it was about who could stand up for

Scotland. It's almost as if that part of the election has already

been held. Not a single candidate has stood and no one has put in any

votes, but the assumption is with a 20 point plus lead in the polls,

Theresa May will be unbeatable. Then it comes down to, what will you do

in terms of standing up to it or in Scottish terms and that is where the

argument is? Was Nicola Sturgeon and wives? She said Jeremy Corbyn would

not win, -- unwise. She said she might be willing to work with him in

a Progressive Alliance. That has muddied the waters a little. She is

probably safe to say that it's unlikely Jeremy Corbyn will win but

it's unfortunate it's already been put out there. That was one of the

first thing said in the election campaign by the Tories, raising this

perceived danger. They did that in 2015 and it worked. It is a genuine

fear in England of this kind of alliance between Labour and the SNP.

It really works as a tactic, so it's not something Nicola Sturgeon is

wise to play up. There's Nicola Sturgeon need to refine the talking?

It's either an alliance or being tough opposition to the Tories?

Today the message was top opposition to the Tories. She was goaded into

saying something along the Progressive Alliance line that she

pushed in 2015. Her statements are all about standing up against the

Tories, hard Brexit. If you see the way the Tories reacted, within an

hour they had a mock-up of a poster saying coalition of chaos. Theresa

May used a speech to hammer this, and Nicola Sturgeon gave away in and

I think we will see no more talk of Progressive alliances from the SNP

because it gives their opponents a way to go at them. Kezia Dugdale

asked why you abstained in the vote on holding an election and it

allowed Nicola Sturgeon a sharp comeback. It was a pretty weak

question. It was going to go through yesterday and the SNP was not saying

they would abstain. They are not saying the Tory government is great

and we would support them. The converse thing would be the Tory

government voting against themselves, saying they want to get

rid of ourselves. It is a weak point. What about the argument Kezia

Dugdale made that she said, Nicola Sturgeon said, that she once the

Tories in power. Presumably to aggravate Scottish opinion and push

towards a referendum on independence? There might be a

little truth in it. I don't think that probably is true that if Labour

wants to attack the SNP, that might be one way to do it that the fact is

the SNP are not stopping Labour winning a general election. That was

the comeback. Don't blame me, Nicola Sturgeon, because your party is

useless. There were so many ways in which Nicola Sturgeon can and could

attack Kezia Dugdale and she threw one back by saying, this is what you

said about Jeremy Corbyn. Carping from the sidelines. This is one of

the great weaknesses the Scottish Labour Party has. Iain Murray is no

great fan of Jeremy Corbyn. Would not serve in his Shadow Cabinet. I

Kezia Dugdale has been critical in the past. This will haunt them every

day and every week at the campaign and opponents will say you don't

think much of your leader, so why should anyone else vote for him? It

was striking with Willie Rennie that most of the conversation was about

strategic politics. He was talking about strategy as well but got it

into waste of -- substantive point about European Union policy. He was

one of the only leaders who found a weak spot in the SNP and went for

it. It's a question about whether the SNP want us to go straight into

the EU after independence or whether they are happy to have a Norway

style model of being in the economic area. Nicola Sturgeon said the

policy was clear. But she still not did answer the question about

whether it was in the manifesto. Nicola Sturgeon is squirming a bit

on this and it will only become clear when we get the SNP manifesto.

So until that point, they will keep going at that. Jenny, the talk was

that by the time the next UK general election came around, which was

meant to be Twenty20, after Brexit negotiations, by then Britain was

out or in the European Union and you had to have some modified way back

in the European single market. Right now, Britain is in the European

Union. Perhaps more straightforward, perhaps more complex. The timing

would be difficult. It's difficult to foresee a way that Scotland could

now stay in. You would have to have an independent referendum in time to

not leave, but with a general election that has put back the

Brexit negotiations a bit. That's properly another three months before

things can get going. Either way it looks like the timeline, we would be

out and the question would be, what would be -- we be applying to do?

The SNP would be unwise to be too clear about that in the manifesto.

One other thing that might be put on hold, the First Minister was talking

about a statement to the Scottish Parliament regarding the next steps

to a referendum. It had been mandated by the parliament here.

Presumably that is on hold? I understand she wants to go ahead

with the statement when she can, but the steps themselves as far as the

UK Government is concerned, that will be pushed out well beyond the

summer. Thanks both very much for joining us here to analyse the

questions to the First Minister, dominated by elections, local

elections and the small matter of the UK general elections. From me,

Brian Taylor, goodbye. So, Suzanne, what's

the correct answer? Brian Cox is discovering

the Scots who made