:00:15. > :00:17.Good afternoon and welcome to the programme.
:00:18. > :00:19.There was a feisty exchange at Holyrood
:00:20. > :00:26.as the Finance Secretary defended his tax plans for Scotland.
:00:27. > :00:30.And here at Westminster, could the political crisis in Northern Ireland
:00:31. > :00:35.mean the triggering of Article 50 has to be postponed?
:00:36. > :00:38.At Holyrood, the Finance Secretary Derek Mackay
:00:39. > :00:41.has faced questions from MSPs over his tax plans.
:00:42. > :00:44.Mr Mackay needs support from at least one other party
:00:45. > :00:46.to get his budget through Parliament.
:00:47. > :00:51.Let's speak to our political editor, Brian Taylor.
:00:52. > :01:00.Does he have a deal? Not at the moment, he doesn't. He has to get a
:01:01. > :01:05.deal on two elements. First of all, he has to get the budget three. At
:01:06. > :01:11.stage three in the chamber behind me here. Before that, there's a
:01:12. > :01:15.separate vote on the tax proposals. Holyrood now controlling income tax
:01:16. > :01:21.rates and bands. He has to get that through as well. There isn't a deal
:01:22. > :01:25.on that either. Let's recall briefly what the proposals are on income
:01:26. > :01:33.tax. They want to freeze the standard rate. On the upper rate for
:01:34. > :01:36.higher earners, the' proposing to increase the rate that kicks in. A
:01:37. > :01:43.tax cut for those on higher earnings. The SNP says that goes too
:01:44. > :01:47.far. Derek Mackay only wants to increase it in line with inflation.
:01:48. > :01:53.Today, the Tories said it was wrong, people in Scotland would end up
:01:54. > :01:57.paying more. Look at this exchange with Patrick Harvie who questioned
:01:58. > :02:02.why there was a giveaway at all for those on higher earnings? Why are
:02:03. > :02:08.you doing the maximum set out as something worth considering in your
:02:09. > :02:12.manifesto? In line with inflation, we'll take tax decisions year to
:02:13. > :02:16.year. That's a position we've put across at the moment. Why? That's
:02:17. > :02:24.the figure in line with inflation. It feels like the right thing to do
:02:25. > :02:31.in a balance way? Why? Why? It feels like it is in balance. Mr Harvie has
:02:32. > :02:38.a different view on the structure of income tax. We feel it sits within
:02:39. > :02:43.our manifesto. Sits with people is fair and gives certainty at this
:02:44. > :02:48.time. What's your theory? I suspect you have one. Do you think this
:02:49. > :02:52.makes a deal with the Greens less likely? It make it problematic at
:02:53. > :02:58.the moment. There are two separate votes. One on the tax, a resolution
:02:59. > :03:03.on the rates. The rate of tax to be levied. Thennage only then there is
:03:04. > :03:08.a vote on the budget. You hear Patrick Harvie saying he is looking
:03:09. > :03:13.and pressing for concessions on tax. You hear in response, Derek Mackay
:03:14. > :03:17.making reference to the manifesto, a reminder a manifesto which drew the
:03:18. > :03:21.SNP a rather larger share of the vote and of the MSPs than the
:03:22. > :03:25.greens. They are not a majority. The SNP are taking the view large
:03:26. > :03:29.parties have rights too. They believe they're entitled to put
:03:30. > :03:35.forward their detailed proposals on tax. Derek Mackay is not for budging
:03:36. > :03:40.on tax. If there are concessions, he wants them to be on areas of
:03:41. > :03:47.interest and concerns to the Greens and the Liberal Democrats. He's
:03:48. > :03:51.begin up on Labour. To wins the Greens over, he wants to give them
:03:52. > :03:54.something on spending. Patrick Harvie's pushing and holding out for
:03:55. > :03:59.something on tax. This could be very difficult indeed. I think
:04:00. > :04:04.ultimately, there will be a deal. The final sanction in a further
:04:05. > :04:08.election. Voters tend not to like elections, unnecessary elections.
:04:09. > :04:11.They particularly tend not to reward the party that has created that
:04:12. > :04:18.unnecessary election. What about the Liberal Democrats? The Liberal
:04:19. > :04:21.Democrats are on the finance committee today. Very much in
:04:22. > :04:29.discussion with the SNP behind the scenes. One element of this, people
:04:30. > :04:33.on the SNP side, remember the 2007-11 Parliament, in 2009 they
:04:34. > :04:36.thought they had a deal with the greens only for that to fall apart
:04:37. > :04:41.at the last moment. They remember that. They don't trust from first
:04:42. > :04:45.principles the greens, that's probably going too far. They are
:04:46. > :04:49.Leary of the Greens because of that. They need to get a deal with
:04:50. > :04:53.someone. Abstention or active support from another party or the
:04:54. > :04:55.tax plan does not go through and the budget falls.
:04:56. > :04:58.The SNP says the UK Government will have to postpone the triggering of
:04:59. > :05:01.Article 50 if the political crisis in Northern Ireland is not solved.
:05:02. > :05:03.Ministers in London have acknowledged a new election
:05:04. > :05:07.is "highly likely" after Sinn Fein withdrew from a power-sharing
:05:08. > :05:14.Our Westminster Correspondent, David Porter, joins me now.
:05:15. > :05:22.David, bring us up to date on this. Gordon, this is to some extent an
:05:23. > :05:27.example of the law of unintended consequences and how something that
:05:28. > :05:32.happens in one of the devolved administrations potentially can
:05:33. > :05:36.affect other parts of the UK on that massively important issue of Brexit.
:05:37. > :05:42.It was an issue which was raised today quite fairly by the SNP at
:05:43. > :05:47.Prime Minister's Questions. Theresa May, when she came into Downing
:05:48. > :05:51.Street as Prime Minister said we know Brexit means Brexit but she
:05:52. > :05:54.also wanted full negotiations with the devolved administrations. If, as
:05:55. > :05:59.looks likely in Northern Ireland, there will not be a formal
:06:00. > :06:04.administration and they may well be in an election period, what is the
:06:05. > :06:09.knock-on effect for negotiating with all the devolved administrations to
:06:10. > :06:15.get a position on Brexit and triggering of Article 50 to formally
:06:16. > :06:19.begin the Brexit negotiations. It was raised at Prime Minister's
:06:20. > :06:22.Question Time by the SNP leader down here at Westminster with Theresa
:06:23. > :06:28.May. Here's a flavour of their exchange. Mr Speaker, the Prime
:06:29. > :06:32.Minister's indicated she wants to take the views of the elected
:06:33. > :06:37.representatives and the devolved institutions on Brexit seriously.
:06:38. > :06:43.So, it stands to reason, then, that if there is no Northern Irish
:06:44. > :06:48.assembly and no Northern Irish executive for much of the time
:06:49. > :06:53.before the March timetable she has set before invoking Article 50, she
:06:54. > :06:58.will be unable to properly discuss, and find agreement on the complex
:06:59. > :07:04.issues during this time period? In these circumstances, will the Prime
:07:05. > :07:12.Minister postpone invoking Article 50... Will she postpone Article 50
:07:13. > :07:20.or will she just plough on regardless? It's about ensuring, as
:07:21. > :07:27.he says, we want to ensure we do hear the views from all parts of the
:07:28. > :07:30.UK. That's why we have established the J MC European committee
:07:31. > :07:34.specifically to take the views and the J MC plenary which is also
:07:35. > :07:38.meeting more frequently than previously. I'm clear, first of all,
:07:39. > :07:42.we want to ensure within this period of seven days we can find a
:07:43. > :07:47.resolution to the political situation in Northern Ireland so we
:07:48. > :07:51.can continue to see the Assembly Government continuing. But, I'm also
:07:52. > :07:57.clear in the discussions we have, it will be possible, it is still the
:07:58. > :08:00.case that ministers are in place and there are executives in place that
:08:01. > :08:06.we are still able to take the views of the Northern Ireland people.
:08:07. > :08:12.Where does this go, David? In theory, presumably, if we go back to
:08:13. > :08:16.direct rule in Northern Ireland, the Government in London simply, as it
:08:17. > :08:20.were, negotiates the Northern Ireland bits of this on behalf of
:08:21. > :08:27.Northern Ireland? That is potentially what could happen. There
:08:28. > :08:32.is a political agenda here. Angus Robertson and the SNP would be happy
:08:33. > :08:37.if Article 50 was never triggered. They want Scotland and the rest of
:08:38. > :08:40.the UK remain in Europe. What happens if there is no agreement in
:08:41. > :08:44.Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland is going through elections,
:08:45. > :08:49.who speaks on behalf of Northern Ireland? It was noticeable there
:08:50. > :08:53.that Theresa May was choosing her words very carefully saying
:08:54. > :08:57.ministers were still in place, there were civil servants in place so the
:08:58. > :09:02.process could continue. It is certainly going on at the moment,
:09:03. > :09:06.there are talks today in London... I'm curious, David, what was the
:09:07. > :09:11.reaction from the Government benches and the Labour benches to that
:09:12. > :09:17.question from Angus Robertson? Was it that they said interesting point
:09:18. > :09:22.or this is just you trying to find an excuse for putting the triggering
:09:23. > :09:25.of Article 50 off? It was more the former saying you've actually got a
:09:26. > :09:30.valid point here. Perhaps there are some on the Labour benches who would
:09:31. > :09:34.not have been terribly happy it had been raised by the SNP. That is more
:09:35. > :09:39.to do with the tribal loyalties between Labour and the SNP. There is
:09:40. > :09:43.a feeling it is a question that has to be raised. But when a question is
:09:44. > :09:50.raised people have to come up with answers. Theresa May's made it plain
:09:51. > :09:54.that she sees her timetable for triggering Article 50 by the end of
:09:55. > :09:59.March, she doesn't see anything that will scupper that at the moment. It
:10:00. > :10:04.does add another dimension to what is going on in Belfast at the moment
:10:05. > :10:09.and the talks this there will be over Stormont. Also, it adds another
:10:10. > :10:12.dimension to the Brexit negotiations, particularly involving
:10:13. > :10:18.the devolved administrations. No-one say it was going to be easy.ant it
:10:19. > :10:19.ain't! Thanks David. We'll speak to you later.
:10:20. > :10:28.I'm joined by the former Shadow Scottish Secretary, Margaret Curran.
:10:29. > :10:37.David's point is a good one. Because of the complexity of the structure
:10:38. > :10:41.of the UK these days not to mention Europe, no-one would have predicted
:10:42. > :10:45.the situation in Ireland we're in? As he said, it's not easy. There's
:10:46. > :10:49.no straight lines coming out of the Brexit negotiations at all. It is a
:10:50. > :10:58.reasonable question Angus Robertson raised. First of all, will an
:10:59. > :11:03.election with the result? There will be rest Is stance to that in
:11:04. > :11:09.Northern Ireland. I harbour a guess, there's no magic solution there.
:11:10. > :11:15.But, it's yet another dimension on the complexities of Brexit. One gets
:11:16. > :11:19.a sense, I mean, if we take away the particular situation arising from
:11:20. > :11:24.Martin McGuinness's resignation, there seemed to be a willingness on
:11:25. > :11:27.the part of both, of Europe, of the Government of Ireland and of the
:11:28. > :11:32.Government of the UK to make sure there was an open border between the
:11:33. > :11:37.north and south because of the peace agreement? That may get raised again
:11:38. > :11:42.in all this discussion. The other point David raised about this in
:11:43. > :11:46.terms of relationship to Brexit and Article 50, I think it is very
:11:47. > :11:51.difficult to try to undermine a referendum result. We went through
:11:52. > :11:56.all this in Scotland. We guaranteed we'd respect a referendum result. It
:11:57. > :12:01.is very hard to use anything just to look as if you're completely
:12:02. > :12:07.undermining and create difficulties for implementing that result. You
:12:08. > :12:11.think Labour should be pretty unambiguously saying we're going to
:12:12. > :12:15.leave the European Union. We might argue with might want to keep parts
:12:16. > :12:21.of the single market but you think Labour should be saying... To be
:12:22. > :12:25.fair, I've not been uncritical of the Labour leadership in some of
:12:26. > :12:33.this, or I have been critical of them. It is put out clearly in the
:12:34. > :12:36.Bloomberg speech, yes, you have to respect the result of the
:12:37. > :12:39.referendum. That is the democratic and proper thing to do. But that
:12:40. > :12:45.doesn't give the Government a blank cheque. They have been very lax in
:12:46. > :12:50.terms of bringing forward any debate, talking about any of the
:12:51. > :12:53.negotiating decisions, engaging with Parliament about that. Angus
:12:54. > :12:57.Robertson says Parliament should be involved in this discussion. When
:12:58. > :13:03.you think through the various perm tagses and implications. Parliament
:13:04. > :13:08.has to be involved in that. I don't think, I think it doesn't respect
:13:09. > :13:14.the debate, the complexity of that debate as their excuse to undermine
:13:15. > :13:17.the result. The Government may not themselves know exactly what it is
:13:18. > :13:24.they want to negotiate or what their plan is. In a sense... That's part
:13:25. > :13:28.of the problem we have. Given no-one expected the Brexit vote. OK, it is
:13:29. > :13:31.six months ago, it is not unreasonable for them not to be
:13:32. > :13:35.fully decided on what they're doing? It is a Liberal Democrating the mat
:13:36. > :13:41.criticism to say the party that held the referendum in the first place,
:13:42. > :13:46.the party, with a good number of their members wanted to happen, now
:13:47. > :13:50.leading Cabinet members arguing for it, seem pretty clueless as to what
:13:51. > :13:54.the real implications are, to the extent they can't tell elected
:13:55. > :14:00.people what it is. You're missing something out, the Prime Minister,
:14:01. > :14:04.David Cameron and the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the majority of
:14:05. > :14:07.the members of the Government at the time said, these people want to
:14:08. > :14:12.leave the European Union don't really know what they want.
:14:13. > :14:16.Innocentless, it is incumbent on the Government, if you hold a
:14:17. > :14:21.referendum, to stand by the result. It is a pretty damning indictment on
:14:22. > :14:25.all members of that party who took it to the people without working
:14:26. > :14:28.through the implications of this. We are in a very interesting position
:14:29. > :14:32.as has been highlighted in the UK Parliament, one of the implications
:14:33. > :14:36.of this is the impact it could have for a situation like Northern
:14:37. > :14:39.Ireland. Some of the economic implications but also political
:14:40. > :14:45.implications for the progress that's been made in Northern Ireland. That
:14:46. > :14:50.is thrown up. When you are making these proposals and taking forward a
:14:51. > :14:54.referendum, you need to be very clear about what you're playing
:14:55. > :14:59.around with here. We need to move on. What's your betting on who Derek
:15:00. > :15:01.Mackay does a deal with on his budget. Greens or Liberal Democrats?
:15:02. > :15:04.Greens. Today, in the Parliament, the
:15:05. > :15:06.Scottish Government is leading the debate about their
:15:07. > :15:08.International Development Strategy. Although overseas aid
:15:09. > :15:10.is reserved to Westminster, the Scottish Government offers
:15:11. > :15:12.a voluntary contribution. It was a programme which was first
:15:13. > :15:14.developed to help Malawi. The new strategy
:15:15. > :15:16.will now extend the plan to include Zambia, Rwanda
:15:17. > :15:19.and Pakistan. This year, the funding is due to
:15:20. > :15:35.rise from ?9 million to ?10 million. It is easier to get things done, to
:15:36. > :15:37.achieve greater value for money and bring about culturally sensitive
:15:38. > :15:43.development guided by practical needs on the ground. We believe it
:15:44. > :15:51.is a new model for development that is unique in world terms. This model
:15:52. > :15:53.has enabled Scots to achieve a disproportionately large impact in
:15:54. > :16:08.partnership with Mullally and individuals in organisations. --
:16:09. > :16:12.Malawi. I am grateful. As the co-convenor of the cross-party group
:16:13. > :16:17.I'm well aware of the work that civic society in Scotland does to
:16:18. > :16:21.provide the foundations. There is concern that some of the core
:16:22. > :16:29.funding has not been clarified. I wonder what he can offer to assure
:16:30. > :16:37.the groups of future funding so they can continue to carry out that
:16:38. > :16:42.excellent work? The member points to network groups within Scotland, and
:16:43. > :16:51.of course the funding decisions have not yet been made but will be made
:16:52. > :16:57.soon and the groups concerned will not need to wait aurally long for
:16:58. > :17:07.those decisions. We brought energy access to over 80,000 people in
:17:08. > :17:10.Malawi, in rural areas. We've established standards for education
:17:11. > :17:14.there, education Scotland are working closely with the Scottish
:17:15. > :17:20.Government and partners having developed a memorandum of
:17:21. > :17:26.understanding in Malawi, and we've helped quadruple the annual number
:17:27. > :17:34.of medical graduates from Malawi's only public medical school. We've
:17:35. > :17:37.provided the Scottish Charity Mary's Meals with money to feed tens of
:17:38. > :17:44.thousands of pupils across Mullally. I would like to congratulate their
:17:45. > :17:50.founder on being awarded the Livingstone medal by the Scottish
:17:51. > :17:54.geographical Society. He received this in recognition of his
:17:55. > :18:00.contribution to feeding over 1 million children in Malawi and
:18:01. > :18:05.thousands more in other countries. I agree with what he's said. I wonder
:18:06. > :18:09.if he would agree that we both need to do the longer term investment in
:18:10. > :18:16.enabling other countries but also shorter term things, such as the
:18:17. > :18:20.meals he has been referring to? The member is right, this is the
:18:21. > :18:29.challenge, making sure we respond to the immediate need, and the fact the
:18:30. > :18:35.countries we are working in have ambitions like any other people in
:18:36. > :18:40.any other country. They will be in a future position to be more
:18:41. > :18:45.self-sufficient than they already are. That does not take away from
:18:46. > :18:52.the urgent need to help now. I want to conclude with my comment about
:18:53. > :18:55.Malawi. Although what we do there is for the sake of Malawi, are
:18:56. > :19:05.partnership has created real benefits for Scottish people as
:19:06. > :19:12.well. I am delighted to announce funding for the Blantyre to Blantyre
:19:13. > :19:20.clinical research project. We are linking clinicians with those in
:19:21. > :19:30.Mullally so we can study the increasing incidence. The results of
:19:31. > :19:31.this will continue to research the Glasgow effect and studies of the
:19:32. > :19:38.health of the Scottish population. The former Scottish Justice
:19:39. > :19:40.Secretary has warned the SNP faces to win a new referendum
:19:41. > :19:45.on Scottish independence. Kenny MacAskill said the
:19:46. > :19:47.circumstances surrounding IndyRef2 are arguably less favourable
:19:48. > :19:50.and more complicated than in 2014. Well, Mr MacAskill joins us this
:19:51. > :20:07.afternoon from Edinburgh. You've been writing various things
:20:08. > :20:15.about this, why have you got a donor on an independence referendum? I
:20:16. > :20:18.don't think this is the time for it. But there are precursors, it does
:20:19. > :20:22.not mean it cannot be one or the circumstances could not change
:20:23. > :20:28.again. As you were discussing, a disastrous exit from the EU may make
:20:29. > :20:34.it not only necessary but far more beneficial economically. But if you
:20:35. > :20:38.look at things in the cold light of the verses where they were in
:20:39. > :20:44.September 2014I think things are harder which is why I've always
:20:45. > :20:52.cautioned this to not be the optimum time for a referendum. You also
:20:53. > :20:58.think it should not be over the issue of Europe? There are two
:20:59. > :21:04.factors, many of those who voted yes were also leave voters. There is
:21:05. > :21:13.anecdotal and no doubt settle logical evidence for that. --
:21:14. > :21:15.polling evidence. That could complicate matters. Secondly, we
:21:16. > :21:23.don't know what the European Union is going to be like. The problem was
:21:24. > :21:28.it set the tectonic plates shifting and we don't know what is green to
:21:29. > :21:39.happen in the Netherlands and France, and the EU of 2017 will be a
:21:40. > :21:46.fastly different place and it could be wiser to go for independence. You
:21:47. > :21:51.seem to be saying you should not have an independence referendum over
:21:52. > :21:56.the issue of the Brexit votes but also are seeing if there is another
:21:57. > :22:08.one it should not be for Scotland in Europe. Firstly, I think there will
:22:09. > :22:12.be another independence referendum, just not when. It could be that this
:22:13. > :22:17.is the precursor to it if the negotiations are calamitous and the
:22:18. > :22:25.scenario facing the UK and Scotland is grievous because of the terms,
:22:26. > :22:30.then it may be that is the direction to go in. But you don't know what
:22:31. > :22:37.position will be vis-a-vis the European Union and there may be
:22:38. > :22:41.arguments that you should seek independence to change your own
:22:42. > :22:46.direction. But the nub of it at the moment is I don't think it is the
:22:47. > :22:54.time to be going for a referendum, I think it is harder than before but
:22:55. > :22:57.does not mean it cannot be won. If I were Nicola Sturgeon I would be
:22:58. > :23:07.saying, thank you for nothing. What you said undermines her strategy,
:23:08. > :23:15.you are trying to dissociate the two things entirely. That needs to be
:23:16. > :23:20.done, I think the independence scenario painted in 2014 was
:23:21. > :23:31.predicated on there being no change in social, political, economic
:23:32. > :23:37.unions. There are changes in Central and Eastern Europe that I find quite
:23:38. > :23:50.unpalatable, there may be changes in Western Europe that are not to be
:23:51. > :23:56.supported. The point of the Scottish Government, the only leveraged they
:23:57. > :23:59.have as they see it in trying to get a deal over Brexit is to threaten
:24:00. > :24:05.another referendum and now you're seeing, not only should they not be
:24:06. > :24:11.doing that but if there is another referendum it should have nothing to
:24:12. > :24:15.do with Europe. I'm appearing as a commentator, as you yourself are.
:24:16. > :24:19.I'm not a member of the SNP Government or speaking on their
:24:20. > :24:25.behalf. I've laid out matters as I see it and also as a critical
:24:26. > :24:28.friend. I've countenanced those calling for a referendum that this
:24:29. > :24:32.is not the time and I think the opinion polls bear that out. I think
:24:33. > :24:40.the First Minister is doing the right job in seeking to leverage as
:24:41. > :24:44.much as she can, she does have and is correct to put it on the table, I
:24:45. > :24:51.just don't believe this is the time to trigger it. Of course, you can
:24:52. > :24:56.say anything you like. You don't need to take responsibility for the
:24:57. > :24:59.SNP Government. I'm just trying to draw out the point you're making,
:25:00. > :25:05.which is so different from what Nicola Sturgeon is saying. Given
:25:06. > :25:10.that so much was put on the idea of Scotland in Europe, could you think
:25:11. > :25:15.the Scottish Nationalists have any realistic prospect of winning an
:25:16. > :25:20.independence referendum if they said, you did not want to be outside
:25:21. > :25:25.the European Union, we are going to be outside Britain and outside the
:25:26. > :25:30.European Union. Long before I was a member of the SNP Government, I was
:25:31. > :25:35.in the SNP when we changed the policy, quite controversially, to
:25:36. > :25:39.being independence within the European Union. But things have
:25:40. > :25:42.moved on. We don't know what the European Union is going to be like,
:25:43. > :25:47.we don't know what the global situation is going to be because
:25:48. > :25:54.Brexit is being followed by Donald Trump. So all I am cautioning is
:25:55. > :25:59.independence is what the SNP stands for. The European Union can be a
:26:00. > :26:04.double-edged sword, as we know when a significant percentage of the SNP
:26:05. > :26:13.membership is not in favour of it. And they could be leverage a ring --
:26:14. > :26:20.leverage in certain things. I've got Margaret Curran and I'm sure she
:26:21. > :26:23.will say people are scared of independence and leaving the
:26:24. > :26:27.European Union and scared of Donald Trump and that might help opposition
:26:28. > :26:30.to independence for Scotland and she will jibe at you that you really
:26:31. > :26:37.think the same, what is your reply to her before she says it? I think
:26:38. > :26:41.it's a very scary world, the status quo that we knew and accepted, the
:26:42. > :26:45.European Union, the relationship between Europe and America, they are
:26:46. > :26:50.threatened by what has happened in the last six months or so. Anybody
:26:51. > :26:55.who is a clear is either blessed with powers the rest of us don't
:26:56. > :27:00.have because most of us did not see those things coming in mainstream
:27:01. > :27:04.politics and I put my hand up to that. I would like to see where the
:27:05. > :27:09.world is heading. There are some things we've always got to keep as a
:27:10. > :27:12.North Star and I think Scotland being an independent nation is that.
:27:13. > :27:18.How you achieve it may need to attack with the wind as it changes
:27:19. > :27:22.and below. Thank you very much. Margaret Curran, you're still here
:27:23. > :27:27.to say what I said you were going to say. He's done a service, because I
:27:28. > :27:35.think it is time. He has been honest about the debate that is internal in
:27:36. > :27:39.the SNP, and I think it is good he has brought it to a wider stage...
:27:40. > :27:44.You do not, you just think it is good because he has contradicted
:27:45. > :27:50.Nicola Sturgeon. I get frustrated because you only hear one view from
:27:51. > :27:56.political party. Nobody could Labour of that! If we ever have another
:27:57. > :28:01.referendum then I think people will be asking much more searching
:28:02. > :28:04.questions about it. I don't think people will ever take the words of
:28:05. > :28:14.political leaders saying they will sort it out later, just that it will
:28:15. > :28:17.add up. Kenny MacAskill's idea, you'd effectively be running a yes
:28:18. > :28:25.to independence campaign that was against Europe and against the UK,
:28:26. > :28:30.it is 20 years since the SNP have been invested in Scotland in Europe,
:28:31. > :28:36.it's a pretty big break. It is a huge break, you referenced that when
:28:37. > :28:40.you said you would be asking Scots to leave, we would be out of Britain
:28:41. > :28:44.and out of Europe and I think that puts us in a very vulnerable
:28:45. > :28:48.position and I think small countries want to develop partnerships, work
:28:49. > :28:52.with other people, and if we had no natural way of doing that it would
:28:53. > :28:55.raise questions but fundamentally it is as Kenny MacAskill has said
:28:56. > :29:00.himself, the economic questions have not been resolved and become more
:29:01. > :29:06.challenging if we are out of Europe as well. There are big issues for
:29:07. > :29:10.the SNP to face. What he touched on which is important is the First
:29:11. > :29:13.Minister continually linking the issue of independence to Brexit is
:29:14. > :29:19.quite frustrating, because she is talking more about Brexit than
:29:20. > :29:24.education or health which is frustrating, you cannot always make
:29:25. > :29:29.that link. You have strayed onto Kezia Dugdale's stump speech. Let's
:29:30. > :29:43.speak to some MSPs at Holyrood. Your hands are in your pockets. Are
:29:44. > :29:47.you relaxed you've done a deal with the Scottish Government over the
:29:48. > :29:51.budget? Sorry to the so informal, Gordon! There's ongoing discussion
:29:52. > :29:55.between the political parties about the budget, as there always is.
:29:56. > :30:02.There's not any deal that's been done. If you listened to the
:30:03. > :30:05.discussion between myself and Derek Mackay, the financial secretary, in
:30:06. > :30:09.committee today, there's a big difference between the Green and SNP
:30:10. > :30:12.approach, particularly on the need for more progressive taxation. I
:30:13. > :30:16.hope Derek Mackay's willing to give some ground on that, recognising he
:30:17. > :30:22.doesn't represent a majority Government anymore. And that a
:30:23. > :30:27.standstill tax policy is really very disappointing for the very many
:30:28. > :30:33.people who campaigned long and hard for the ability to have more
:30:34. > :30:37.progressive taxation in Scotland. To close the gap between rich and poor.
:30:38. > :30:42.The point Brian Taylor made earlier, because there are separate votes in
:30:43. > :30:47.the budget and the tax proposals, he was assuming you'd do a deal on the
:30:48. > :30:53.budget or might, he said the fact you objected to the tax proposals,
:30:54. > :30:56.and you have to vote for them or abstain, as matters stand, unless
:30:57. > :31:01.there are changes on taxes, you won't vote for the SNP on the tax
:31:02. > :31:11.issue? The discussion does have to be about all aspects of this, the
:31:12. > :31:15.taxation and spending side. The rate resolution, the sangle band on
:31:16. > :31:19.thresh holds has to happen before the final stage on the budget. I
:31:20. > :31:24.hope all these discussions are tied up and the Government gives some
:31:25. > :31:29.ground to build consensus and some majority support for what they're
:31:30. > :31:32.putting forward rather than pretending the SNP manifesto in
:31:33. > :31:38.budget form has majority support. We're taking the same approach as we
:31:39. > :31:43.always have, whether it was a Labour/Liberal Democrat coalition or
:31:44. > :31:48.SNP and minority Government, we'll challenge and be constructive where
:31:49. > :31:51.we can about and we'll always push the Government who whichever
:31:52. > :31:56.political flavour to do more of the good stuff, less of the bad stuff.
:31:57. > :32:00.Ash Denham, I think that was, the rough translation of that is we want
:32:01. > :32:06.to do a deal, please do one. Will you? I think the Government have
:32:07. > :32:12.been clear. We are a minority Government. This is an hoes tireic
:32:13. > :32:15.time for the Scottish Government. The budget will not be a spending
:32:16. > :32:20.budget but one that has to raise money as well. We've put forward
:32:21. > :32:24.what we think is a very stable, there's not an awful lot of change
:32:25. > :32:29.in there. For you personally, is the tax thing a bottom line? The point
:32:30. > :32:33.Patrick Harvie was making in that exchange we saw earlier, he wanted
:32:34. > :32:38.to see less inflation indexing of the higher rate. Is that something
:32:39. > :32:44.that the SNP could even consider compromising on? The budget, they
:32:45. > :32:49.took the decision, the First Minister and Cabinet Secretary, that
:32:50. > :32:53.we didn't think it was a good idea to raise the additional rate higher
:32:54. > :32:58.at this point. We need stability. We're in a very difficult economic
:32:59. > :33:01.situation at the moment. There is some analysis which suggested only
:33:02. > :33:04.5% of those additional rate taxpayers were to leave Scotland,
:33:05. > :33:09.that policy would actually raise no more revenue at all. So, I think we
:33:10. > :33:13.have to look at this carefully. The Scottish Government is open to
:33:14. > :33:18.listening to the other parties. I think that will be an ongoing
:33:19. > :33:24.process over the next fee weeks. Pauline McNeill, I presume Labour
:33:25. > :33:29.would rather burn in hell than support the SNP budget. Am I right
:33:30. > :33:35.in thinking that? No, I think you're wrong. We might be remote at the
:33:36. > :33:39.moment from reaching any kind of consensus, the issue for Labour is
:33:40. > :33:43.?327 million worth of cuts is something we could not vote for in
:33:44. > :33:48.the budget. We'd like to see more recognition from the SNP that the
:33:49. > :33:54.impact of this on public services this year will be quite severe on
:33:55. > :33:59.the NHS, social services and so on. So are you saying if they Rowed back
:34:00. > :34:05.a bit, you'd support their budget? We would be much closer to where we
:34:06. > :34:09.want to be. I suppose we are closer to Patrick Harvie's position than
:34:10. > :34:14.Ash Denham's position in that we think we've tax raising powers and
:34:15. > :34:17.some of them should be used. We've heard today Derek Mackay saying
:34:18. > :34:21.they're prepared to use the top rate of tax only if the Tories use it in
:34:22. > :34:26.the UK. Then they would consider it. I think they need to make their mind
:34:27. > :34:31.up where they want to be on this. Certainly where we'd like to be,
:34:32. > :34:34.that would be some extra revenue and provide a balance between stability
:34:35. > :34:41.that the country needs. But we cannot put up with any more cuts to
:34:42. > :34:46.our public services. Murdo Fraser, a rough translation is Labour won't
:34:47. > :34:50.support the budget unless Nicola sturgeon supports the Labour
:34:51. > :34:55.manifesto. Is that your position for Conservative support? We can't
:34:56. > :35:00.support a budget that makes Scotland the most highly taxed part of the
:35:01. > :35:04.UK. The reason that's important this year because for the first time
:35:05. > :35:08.around half of the money the Scottish Government has to has to be
:35:09. > :35:11.raised within Scotland. It is the performance of the Scottish economy
:35:12. > :35:18.which will determine the overall total available to spend on public
:35:19. > :35:23.services. We know the Scottish economy is under-performing in terms
:35:24. > :35:28.of the GDP growth and unemployment. Anything that hampers our ability to
:35:29. > :35:33.go grow the economy means we get less money. The problem with Labour
:35:34. > :35:38.and the Greens calling for higher taxes, that doesn't necessarily mean
:35:39. > :35:42.more revenue. If those higher taxes depress economic activity you drive
:35:43. > :35:46.away investment and have less money. Very sympathy with the argument Ash
:35:47. > :35:51.Denham has with the higher additional rate. A higher rate in
:35:52. > :35:54.Scotland compared to theest of the UK would be disastrous for the
:35:55. > :36:03.Scottish publish revenues. We'd drive people away. Let's just
:36:04. > :36:09.quickly talk about Brexit, Murdo Fraser. Just let me ask you this,
:36:10. > :36:14.what would you like to see in terms of Brexit? Would you in favour of a
:36:15. > :36:18.so-called hard Brexit or like Britain to still have some
:36:19. > :36:23.somebodying says to the single market and what do you think that
:36:24. > :36:27.would mean? People throw around terms like hard Brexit and soft
:36:28. > :36:30.Brexit without knowing what these mean. You can't be a member of the
:36:31. > :36:36.single market if you're not a member of the EU. We've taken a decision as
:36:37. > :36:39.a country to leave the EU. We can't be members of the single market if
:36:40. > :36:43.that concept has any meaning. We need to have the maximum possible
:36:44. > :36:48.access to the single market. We can do that without being EU members.
:36:49. > :36:52.That's about how we negotiate the best possible deal for Scottish and
:36:53. > :36:58.British businesses. For individuals too. That's always about the
:36:59. > :37:01.negotiation bit. Just to be clear on this, you can understand many
:37:02. > :37:05.people, including myself, get very confused about this. When you say we
:37:06. > :37:13.can't be members of the single market, we can't take part in the
:37:14. > :37:16.system anymore, which means Trading Standards and descriptions of
:37:17. > :37:20.products are laid down at a European level and we can't be part of the
:37:21. > :37:27.customs union, is that what you're saying? There are ways of doing
:37:28. > :37:30.this. Being members of the a Norwegian-style deal. You're
:37:31. > :37:33.effectively in the single market. Bound by its rules but you've no say
:37:34. > :37:38.over how these rules are constructed. You don't want that?
:37:39. > :37:43.You pay into institutions as Norway are doing. You don't have any
:37:44. > :37:49.influes own it. That is not a desirable outcome. It is far better
:37:50. > :37:53.to be out with the EU but we have the maximum possible access to the
:37:54. > :37:56.single market. That's all about creating a negotiation and trade
:37:57. > :38:03.agreement with the EU rather than being part of the EU. Ash Denham,
:38:04. > :38:10.what's your interpretation of the question I asked Murdo Fraser? It is
:38:11. > :38:13.interesting the Tories have rowed back significantly from the comments
:38:14. > :38:20.in July after the referendum where she was quite firm. She said it was
:38:21. > :38:24.a priority for her to maintain membership, not access, of the
:38:25. > :38:28.single market. That seems to have dissolved in the wind now. The First
:38:29. > :38:33.Minister has been very clear. We see a hard Brexit. That is being outside
:38:34. > :38:38.the single market as being a massive threat to Scotland, to our economy.
:38:39. > :38:43.It could cost us up to 80,000 jobs. In that sense, we are looking at
:38:44. > :38:47.every option. We've put forward our proposals which was Scotland's place
:38:48. > :38:52.in Europe. What if Murdo Fraser's right, that you simply can't leave
:38:53. > :38:56.the European Union while staying in the single market. It simply isn't
:38:57. > :39:03.possible. That's his argument? You can be a member of the EEA, the
:39:04. > :39:06.European economic area, as he mentioned, like Norway is to give
:39:07. > :39:12.you membership of the sing the market. You'd be happy for Britain
:39:13. > :39:17.to be paying in billions of pounds to that withouting in any control of
:39:18. > :39:21.the decisions that are made? We think a soft Brexit would clearly be
:39:22. > :39:26.better. It is a question of degree. Hard Brexit will cost the most in
:39:27. > :39:30.terms of jobs and the hardest impact on the economy which could take a
:39:31. > :39:34.long time to recover from. We see membership of the single market or
:39:35. > :39:38.soft Brexit as being the least worst option. We're in a difficult place
:39:39. > :39:42.at the moment. In terms of Scotland, we see the potential for a
:39:43. > :39:47.differentiated option. Where Scotland remain in the EEA and
:39:48. > :39:51.England could be out of the EU. They have a mandate for that in Scotland
:39:52. > :39:54.it is different. To respect the democratic issues of Scotland we
:39:55. > :40:00.need to look at these options. It would be good if we could explore
:40:01. > :40:05.these options for Scotland to stay in the single market and protect
:40:06. > :40:11.jobs. Pauline McNeill, Labour's position depends on the last speech
:40:12. > :40:21.Jeremy Corbyn made which contradict dicts the one he made before it. For
:40:22. > :40:27.example, on Labour's free movement is unclear? I can't speak for UK
:40:28. > :40:30.Labour only Scottish Labour, being in favour of being part of the
:40:31. > :40:35.single market and getting the best possible deal for Scotland. What
:40:36. > :40:40.Corbyn said yesterday was it's all a negotiation. We all have to
:40:41. > :40:45.compromise to get the best deal for the UK and Scotland. What's
:40:46. > :40:49.unnerving, and it's getting serious now, today, we've had warnings from
:40:50. > :40:53.the banking sector about the seriousness of a hard Brexit and the
:40:54. > :40:57.Scottish business sector about profit warnings. Companies concerned
:40:58. > :41:00.we've no certainty in this. That's the most important thing good
:41:01. > :41:06.forward, as soon as possible, the UK Government need to give us some
:41:07. > :41:12.certainty over where we'll end up. Patrick Harvie, I'm curious as to
:41:13. > :41:16.what you make of this, Murdo Fraser says you could have a Norway deal.
:41:17. > :41:21.Other than that, you can't stay in the single market unless you're in
:41:22. > :41:25.the EU. The SNP say they would apparently be prepared to have some
:41:26. > :41:32.sort of Norway-style deal where Britain or Scotland is in E FTA,
:41:33. > :41:39.we've lost Patrick? Margaret, let's get your take on that. We'll go back
:41:40. > :41:43.to the Parliamentarians if we can. Are you any clearer on Brexit than
:41:44. > :41:50.you ever were? I thought you were going to ask me about Jeremy Corbyn!
:41:51. > :41:56.Sorry! Anyway, go on. I was concerned when you saw the interview
:41:57. > :42:01.with the Prime Minister at the weekend indicating that perhaps she
:42:02. > :42:06.was willing to trade membership of the free market for free movement
:42:07. > :42:11.and wants restrictions in free movement, that was more important to
:42:12. > :42:15.her. The importance of having this proper challenge. You will be
:42:16. > :42:18.disappointed if I didn't ask you about Jeremy Corbyn. He had his big
:42:19. > :42:25.relaunch yesterday. It fell completely flat? It is
:42:26. > :42:30.disappointing, shall we say. He has not engauged for voters to
:42:31. > :42:36.understand. Hang on, we've Patrick Harvie back. I was going to ask you
:42:37. > :42:43.what you made of this business as an observer of it. Can we stay? ... The
:42:44. > :42:46.SNP saying can we have a Norway-style deal. Britain or
:42:47. > :42:50.Scotland paying in without having any control. Murdo Fraser saying if
:42:51. > :42:56.you don't do that you can't be in the sings single market. Leaving the
:42:57. > :43:07.EU means leaving it. If I understand Murdo correctly, he was arguing, it
:43:08. > :43:13.is politically unable to be outside of the EU. The challenge I have for
:43:14. > :43:17.anyone who takes about access to the single market, whether it is the
:43:18. > :43:20.Conservative, coach coach or anyone else, access for whom? For the most
:43:21. > :43:24.part they're talking about businesses trading in the singsle
:43:25. > :43:29.market. A single market is only a single market, worthy of the name,
:43:30. > :43:33.if people are also free to decide where they'll sell their labour. If
:43:34. > :43:38.people are not free but capital is free, that's a recipe for even
:43:39. > :43:43.deeper labour exploitation than we see today. That would be
:43:44. > :43:47.unacceptable. The Scottish greens as well as our colleagues in the greens
:43:48. > :43:52.in England and Wales will stand up for the value of free movement.
:43:53. > :43:55.That's a right we didn't surrender in the referendum in June. We'll
:43:56. > :43:57.stand up for that. Thank you to all the rest of you. We'll have to leave
:43:58. > :43:59.it there. And now to the first Prime
:44:00. > :44:02.Minister's Questions of the new year, where the focus
:44:03. > :44:05.fell firmly on the NHS. The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn
:44:06. > :44:07.used all six of his questions to press Theresa May
:44:08. > :44:10.on the pressures facing it. He said the Red Cross had described
:44:11. > :44:13.the 485 people waiting over 12 hours on hospital trolleys in England last
:44:14. > :44:16.week, as a "humanitarian crisis." Theresa May dismissed the
:44:17. > :44:17.description of the situation in the NHS, as "irresponsible"
:44:18. > :44:34.and "overblown". 1.8 million people had to wait
:44:35. > :44:36.longer than four hours last year in accident and emergency departments.
:44:37. > :44:41.The Prime Minister might not like what the Red Cross said but on the
:44:42. > :44:43.same day the British Medical Association said conditions in
:44:44. > :44:55.hospitals across the country are reaching a dangerous level.
:44:56. > :45:02.It has been said the NHS is underfunded and overstretched. If
:45:03. > :45:11.she will not listen to the Red Cross, who will she listen to? The
:45:12. > :45:20.government has put extra funding into the NHS, the fact we're seeing
:45:21. > :45:24.this, more people being treated under four hours every day in the
:45:25. > :45:26.NHS because of the government putting in extra funding and the
:45:27. > :45:34.hard work of medical professionals in an NHS like this, it is not just
:45:35. > :45:37.a question of targets in relation to the health service, we continue to
:45:38. > :45:41.have a commitment as the Health Secretary has made clear to the
:45:42. > :45:44.four-hour target, it is a question of making sure that people are
:45:45. > :45:50.provided with the appropriate care for them and the best possible care
:45:51. > :45:53.for them in their circumstances. Many banks are accelerating the
:45:54. > :45:59.closure of local branches with adverse effect on vulnerable and
:46:00. > :46:03.older people and the high street. The Royal Bank of Scotland is
:46:04. > :46:14.closing down branches across Scotland including Juniper Green and
:46:15. > :46:18.Chester in my constituency. Locals are facing exorbitant bank charges
:46:19. > :46:21.for the privilege of doing that. We'll Prime Minister meet with me to
:46:22. > :46:36.discuss how can realise a situation where banking across the UK services
:46:37. > :46:39.customers and the real economy. This is an issue that banks themselves
:46:40. > :46:50.need to consider and there are many ways they are doing that. I will
:46:51. > :46:54.certainly look at that issue. Sir Ivan Rogers said people may need to
:46:55. > :46:58.deliver messages to the government they will find disagreeable so here
:46:59. > :47:01.is one. A lack of priority for the single market is putting jobs in
:47:02. > :47:07.Scotland and the economy at risk. That means her government is as big
:47:08. > :47:11.a threat to the union as the SNP. Her government is not worthy of the
:47:12. > :47:17.trust of Scots let alone their blind trust so will the Prime Minister
:47:18. > :47:20.take the opportunity to apologise for threatening the union and give a
:47:21. > :47:24.solemn promise to every single person in this country that they
:47:25. > :47:32.will not be a penny worse off after Brexit? The honourable gentleman
:47:33. > :47:40.will be very well aware that I want to see the best possible deal for
:47:41. > :47:47.the UK. When we enter the negotiations, obviously that is one
:47:48. > :47:53.of the things I want to see. Unlike the downplaying that he does about
:47:54. > :47:56.the approach we are taking, I have to say it is this government that is
:47:57. > :48:02.ambitious for the opportunities that are available to this country once
:48:03. > :48:08.we leave the European Union. I'm not going to say it is blowing a gale
:48:09. > :48:18.but it looks like it might be. It is looking threatening. Let me
:48:19. > :48:25.introduce you to the panel. Ian Murray and Kirsty Blackman and
:48:26. > :48:33.Alistair Carmichael. David Morris from the Conservatives. David, at
:48:34. > :48:40.Prime Minister's Questions we had Angus Robertson raising a point,
:48:41. > :48:46.Northern Ireland, what does that mean for Brexit and the triggering
:48:47. > :48:50.of article 50? This is uncharted waters. There is legislation in
:48:51. > :48:58.place to compensate for what is going on here. Hopefully the
:48:59. > :49:02.countries will come together for the sake of Northern Ireland and sort
:49:03. > :49:12.this issue out. What would happen after that, there would be an
:49:13. > :49:14.election, who knows? It is interesting, if you don't have a
:49:15. > :49:22.functioning administration in Northern Ireland, they cannot be
:49:23. > :49:29.consulted, can you go ahead and trigger it? As a member of the
:49:30. > :49:37.Brexit select committee I am hearing again and again what will happen, we
:49:38. > :49:43.need to get on doing it for the economic interests because this
:49:44. > :49:46.uncertainty is enormously damaging. It is incumbent on us to say to
:49:47. > :49:51.those politicians who are part of the administration in Belfast, this
:49:52. > :49:55.is another level of responsibility for you. The reason we've come to
:49:56. > :49:59.where we are in Northern Ireland is this basic lack of trust between the
:50:00. > :50:05.parties and transparency in the government. This is another reason
:50:06. > :50:09.why you've got to get your act together because it is not just
:50:10. > :50:18.affecting Northern Ireland but the whole of the UK. It is particularly
:50:19. > :50:23.bad for the economy of Northern Ireland. If things go wrong in
:50:24. > :50:25.Northern Ireland and we have a situation where we need new
:50:26. > :50:31.elections does that mean the triggering of Article 50 has to be
:50:32. > :50:35.delayed? We hope that will happen and parties in Northern Ireland will
:50:36. > :50:38.get round the table and sort it out but I don't think you can have
:50:39. > :50:41.meaningful consultation with Northern Ireland and their
:50:42. > :50:45.representatives without having a government in place and without
:50:46. > :50:47.having elections coming up so I don't think article 50 should be
:50:48. > :50:53.triggered if things do not sort themselves out. This is the law of
:50:54. > :50:59.unintended consequences. Despite everything we've been thinking,
:51:00. > :51:03.nobody anticipated it could be Northern Ireland that could cause
:51:04. > :51:12.real problems. That is the point the Labour Party made when we had the
:51:13. > :51:16.debate on this issue. You cannot factor in events, the German
:51:17. > :51:28.elections could also dictate the process. There is a much wider issue
:51:29. > :51:32.about the people of Northern Ireland, holding Stormont together,
:51:33. > :51:39.making sure the past can be dealt with. I agree with Alistair
:51:40. > :51:44.Carmichael, they need to sort this out. Article 50 will be the least of
:51:45. > :51:55.their problems if they cannot get this together. One of your
:51:56. > :52:00.colleagues will appear before the Lord and he suggested after Brexit
:52:01. > :52:09.European nationals could be charged to work in this country, companies
:52:10. > :52:12.sponsoring them could be levied with a fee of ?1000 for European
:52:13. > :52:18.nationals to work in the UK. What do you make of that? I'm not aware of
:52:19. > :52:27.that particular point but I'm sure that the grown-ups amongst us would
:52:28. > :52:32.like, if there is any immigration, not an open door policy like we've
:52:33. > :52:35.got now, would there be a tariff? I don't know. At the end of the day
:52:36. > :52:39.depending on what language is used and how Brexit progresses I'm sure
:52:40. > :52:45.that we will be in the European club of some sort. The fact is, we're
:52:46. > :52:54.leaving the European Union but not Europe. You've got a different take
:52:55. > :52:58.on this? It just gets worse. Every week we are here and we want to hear
:52:59. > :53:01.more from the government, we say we need to hear more from the
:53:02. > :53:06.government, when we eventually hear from them it is clearly half baked,
:53:07. > :53:14.not supported by any evidence and if anything, makes the situation worse.
:53:15. > :53:18.There is a massive vacuum into which he politically has been dropped. The
:53:19. > :53:22.person who needs to take control and give direction and tell the country
:53:23. > :53:32.to tell Parliament what she intends to achieve, if not how she will
:53:33. > :53:35.achieve it, is Theresa May. It is her lack of leadership and strategy
:53:36. > :53:41.leaving us in this dreadful position. You may not agree with the
:53:42. > :53:45.policy but if you decided you were to leave the European club there is
:53:46. > :53:48.a logic you can make the rules as to who does and does not work here and
:53:49. > :53:53.whether you want to charge them for that privilege. We want to remain
:53:54. > :53:58.members of the single market and cannot do that without accepting
:53:59. > :54:01.free movement. I think having the Tallis is pretty ridiculous because
:54:02. > :54:04.if you think about small business owners, how are they going to afford
:54:05. > :54:08.to pay this money to have people come and work on their farms,
:54:09. > :54:15.fishing boats, any of these small enterprises? This is a ridiculous
:54:16. > :54:23.pack to take and I agree it is another half baked proposal. There
:54:24. > :54:29.is no plan for Brexit. They have taken back control of the car but
:54:30. > :54:35.they are driving it from the passenger seat, they have no
:54:36. > :54:40.coherence or consistency. What they don't have a plan and they are
:54:41. > :54:47.flailing around with half baked ideas, they are pushing the union
:54:48. > :54:50.further apart and nobody will forgive the Conservative Party if
:54:51. > :54:58.this gamble splits the United Kingdom apart. Health has dominated
:54:59. > :55:07.PMQs and is dominating politics down so. Fully aware that it is a
:55:08. > :55:12.devolved issue but, David Morris and, is it one of those things that
:55:13. > :55:15.whether we live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland we need cross-party
:55:16. > :55:21.agreement and the commission on how we deal with health and social care?
:55:22. > :55:23.Looking at what has been said in the chamber, the Prime Minister has
:55:24. > :55:31.accepted there are problems with the health service. We've all known
:55:32. > :55:41.that. However it is how we manage it from them. We always have a spike in
:55:42. > :55:47.winter but this time there has been more concerned from the public.
:55:48. > :55:56.Brief answers on that from the three of you. Let's not be too smug, the
:55:57. > :56:01.same demographics providing a challenge in England had the same in
:56:02. > :56:06.Scotland. Accident and emergency targets I missed. We need the same
:56:07. > :56:11.approach, the cross-party consensus approach that I was pleased to see
:56:12. > :56:14.the perimeter take on. We have the same challenges and we are working
:56:15. > :56:21.to beat them. We've made huge changes in the NHS. Health boards
:56:22. > :56:28.are about reducing those charges. We're working on it far faster than
:56:29. > :56:40.England. Reporting Scotland said it was the worst state of the NHS since
:56:41. > :56:45.devolution. By the time Andy Burnham had walked out of the room, the
:56:46. > :56:49.Conservatives produced a thing called the death tax. There needs to
:56:50. > :56:54.be trust that the parties will take this forward with good faith. And
:56:55. > :57:01.sure we will come back to the spot the clock has beaten us. Back to the
:57:02. > :57:07.studio. Margaret Curran are still here. What do you make of the
:57:08. > :57:13.discussions about Brexit? Murdo Fraser was arguing you cannot be in
:57:14. > :57:16.the single market if you're not in the European Union. The SNP idea
:57:17. > :57:23.that part of it could stay in the single market but it would mean we
:57:24. > :57:31.pay into the European Union. Do you find any of these possible? I do
:57:32. > :57:36.think paying into something and have no control is a substantial argument
:57:37. > :57:42.but we need to have negotiations. Other options were we could have a
:57:43. > :57:44.degree of control and still be part of the single market because
:57:45. > :57:53.obviously by all the economic indicators... You like the option? I
:57:54. > :57:57.would like to know the other options, whether you have some
:57:58. > :58:05.degree of control. Obviously being members of the single market matters
:58:06. > :58:08.enormously. All the indicators... Your economic prospects going
:58:09. > :58:13.forward. Jeremy Corbyn said something interesting, about
:58:14. > :58:20.migration. I have a sense that we need to develop a fairer migration
:58:21. > :58:28.system and make the case for that because I don't think it has cut
:58:29. > :58:35.through the migration that benefits us, some communities have an unfair
:58:36. > :58:38.burden but there are ways. On a fair and equitable basis I would be in
:58:39. > :58:43.favour of it but we're not far enough down the road in discussion.
:58:44. > :58:50.We do not want to collude with any idea that it is not for the benefit
:58:51. > :58:53.of the British people. That is it, join us tomorrow for First
:58:54. > :58:54.Minister's Questions. That is it for now, we will be back next Wednesday.
:58:55. > :59:00.Goodbye. For two centuries,
:59:01. > :59:03.it has told Scotland's stories. The Scotsman is one of the most
:59:04. > :59:06.prestigious names in the Now the people behind the headlines
:59:07. > :59:11.tell the incredible story of the paper itself.
:59:12. > :59:14.It could get quite hairy. This was real
:59:15. > :59:15.seat-of-the-pants stuff. I went down to the newsroom,
:59:16. > :59:18.opened the door and I thought, "I've come home."
:59:19. > :59:20.You're actually recording history. It's not going to be a newspaper
:59:21. > :59:25.that disappears - no way.