23/10/2011 Scottish National Party Conference

For the last four days Inverness has been the scene of the first SNP

gathering since their historic win in May's Holyrood elections. It's a

biggest conference the SNP has ever had, with delegates and journalists

from all over the world. A carefully managed opening scene

with all the SNPs on stage was followed by the First Minister's

opening address. And it was no surprise he wanted delegates to

enjoy the moment. Delegates, we gather here back at the Eden Court

in great spirits as the first majority Government, I will say

that again, the first majority Government in the Scottish

parliament. Alex Salmond enjoyed a joke at David Cameron's expense,

before calling on a higher authority to justify the old claim

at Scotland's oil. Oil, gas, which we now know will last for the next

50 years, we know it because the Prime Minister has finally realised

it and admitted it. Apparently, his geography teacher at Eton had told

him it would all be over by 2000. There's another advert for Scottish

education, ladies and gentlemen. So, we know and it's now accepted that

oil and gas will continue for the next 40 years, at least. Oil and

gas and hydro power and wave power and wind power and tidal power, all

of that unrivalled, and years and years of coal reserves if we are

allowed to mobilise them. We believe that the natural resources

of the nation, bestowed upon us by the creator of the universe, these

natural resources ultimately should be at the diposal of the people of

this nation and that priority, that people priority is what separates

us from our unionist opponents. Unusual signs of dissent surfaced

in a conversation about EU conversation but normal service was

resumed when the infrastructure Secretary Alec Neil, always

something of a conference crowd- pleaser, rallied the hall with his

characteristic firebrand rhetoric. And last week we actually got some

very good news that will help us in the independent referendum. Because

the UK coalition Government said that every one of their cabinet

Ministers is going to come to Scotland regularly, from now until

the referendum. That means that every Tory Minister is going to

come to Scotland, and every Liberal Democrat-Tory poodle Minister is

going to come to Scotland and every time one of them come to Scotland,

we'll bag at least 1,000 more votes But when they come, let us ask them

some questions. When the Transport Secretary comes, let us ask her why

is it that the high speed rail train from London is going to stop

at Birmingham and Manchester, and come nowhere near Scotland? When

the Defence Secretary comes, ask him if it's still him by the same

time when they come, get him to go to Kinross and explain to the

people there why those two communities had to bear the brunt

of the UK defence cuts and all the job losses that go with it. When

the Chancellor comes, ask him why is he cutting our budget? Why is

there a 36% cut in our capital investment budget in Scotland in

the same time when he's raking in �14 billion a year from Scotland's

oil revenues? The last two years, in addition to all the other

arguments I have for independence, have found another two, two

grandchildren. I know it's hard to believe at my young age that I can

be a grandfather, but it is true. And what I want for Scotland and

for them is to be able to access the best education in the world, to

have access to the best health service in the world, and when they

grow up in their own country, not to feel the need they have to

immigrate to get the chance of a decent job and decent standard of

living and allow them to feel that they can raise their children and

their grandchildren in a Scotland we can all be proud of.

conference was about much more than what happened at the Eden Court

Theatre, it spilled out in discussions between members and

infringe events. On Friday the Daily Telegraph hosted a debate in

the city centre hotel. Raymond Buchanan was there

they came here to debate visions of independence, at the top table the

party's campaign director and a former treasurer. From the audience

questions about how this party can win with a referendum at least two

years away. I have friends who are not at all interested in politics

and I was visiting them last week and they were saying everybody is

talking about independence and Alex Salmond, how do we sustain that

until 2014? To help them win the party hierarchy are actively

embracing traditions, so an independent Scotland would keep the

Queen, still watch the BBC and have an open border. When people do

listen to that they'll realise this is what every other normal country

does in the world. We can have a great relationship with our 19s,

continue to have a social one owe all value, but we can also be a

normal country that makes the important decisions that affect

ourselves as individuals, as families and communities.

doesn't that sound like a lightweight version of

independence? Independence is your parliament being Sovereign to your

parliament can make whatever decisions it wants and it may be

there are a series of areas where we continue to pool our interests,

both with our neighbours and friends on these islands but

elsewhere in Europe and the world. The key thing is that our

parliament can make whatever decisions it likes, and that means

if any of these arrangements on the optimal in the future you can

change them. If that seems too strong for voters, the SNP have

another option. More powers for Holyrood, but not independence.

It's been called devolution max. It's not what delegates here want,

but it will be better than nothing at all.

With the consultation under way on whether to allow same-sex marriage,

a fringe meeting chaired by Alan Smith gathered a panel from the

Scottish youth parliament, and the campaigning group for lesbian, gay,

bisexual and transtkpwepbder -- gender people. The view of the

Scottish Government on the consultation is this: We tend

towards the view that religious ceremonies for civil partnerships

should no longer be prohibited and that same-sex marriage should be

introduced so that same-sex couples have the option of getting married

if that is how they wish to demonstrate their commitment to

each other. We also believe, crucially, we also believe that no

religious body or its sell Brants should be required to carry out

same-sex marriage or civil partnership ceremonies.

Scotland's recently published social attitude survey of 201061%

of Scots stated they supported same-sex marriage. Civil

partnerships are very similar to marriage in terms of the legal

rights afforded to the couple. They're not quite the same and

they're certainly seen as second- class. When the debate was opened

to a contributions from the floor, many of the most passionate

contributions came with a religious perspective. But although the

meeting was mostly attended by supporters of a change in the law,

there was a wide-range of opinions represented. Equal marriage is

about strengthening the institution of marriage, and the legal concept

of marriage and, frankly, the spiritual concept of marriage. It

is not about taking away from it. If we look at the bible and God's

judgment on homosexuality, I believe that whether our nation

goes forward to independence under the SNP, will depend what the SNP

does with this, whether we continue to be blessed by God and able to

lead the nation, or whether God's blessing will fall from us. I have

been married for 32 years and I have never understood why my

marriage had anything to do with a Church and not to do with the state.

I would like to propose that in an independent Scotland marriage is

something that is recognised by the state and thereafter can be blessed

by a Church if that's what the two people want. I would like to say

something to the churches, no one is imposing anything on the

churches. It is up to you to have that debate. But what I would say

to you is listen to your congregations. Listen to what they

have to say and I peek for my Church, and I know that a majority

of Catholics are in favour of gay marriage in Scotland.

The thing is, first of all, they go on about equality, equality, you

know, and between man and woman and we all have to have the same rights

and everything. Well, as what is stated homosexuals do have the same

rights in civil partnerships to tie the knot. They can get it done with

a Reg is strar -- in a registrar. That's it, it's marriage in all but

name. The Justice Secretary is no stranger to controversy. Events in

Libya last week were a reminder of the reaction after he released the

man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing. And his planned reform of

the police has also been controversial.

We will ensure the maintenance of the outstanding police service to

Scotland's communities through a single police service. The status

quo is not an option. Let me challenge some of the hypocrisy

from those who opposed a single service. The Liberal Democrats

criticised reform that was taken to protect the outstanding Forensic

Science Service we have in Scotland. We have consolidated it, but

protected it. Ensuring not just that there will be state of the art

premises in Dundee, but a continuing service in Edinburgh and

Aberdeen. But what of the Liberal Democrats been doing in the

coalition south of the border? They're privatising the service,

lock, stock and laboratory. Their claims on the Police Service were

hypocritical and they got the There have been some legitimate

concerns raised, but they are being addressed. We will ensure there is

neither a centralisation, lack of accountability or interference in

governance. Our police and prosecution service will continue

to serve as at home and abroad, the events in Libya in the last 24

hours may be bringing one issue to a conclusion. But the Lockerbie

investigation remains a live inquiry. Police and prosecutors, as

they have done for 23 years, will take whatever action is necessary

and follow any lines of inquiry in the interests of justice.

In her speech on Friday, Nicola Sturgeon reflected both on broad

issues of being the party of Government and also on her own

specific remit of Health. The real one of our Government is that we

have the confidence, the conviction and ability to govern by the power

and strength of our argument and that is what we will do. Of course,

in the last Parliament, as a minority, we occasionally won the

argument but lost the vote. That is what happened on alcohol minimum

pricing. Labour's decision to vote down minimum pricing on spend to

this day. That vote, that single vote, said that if they cared more

about petty party politics than about the public health of our

nation. And no party that gets its priorities that wrong is fit to

govern our country. I can tell you today that our minimum pricing bill

will be reintroduced to Parliament within the next month. I am so very

proud to be part of a government that has the courage to do what is

right. Back last year, dozens of clinicians signed a newspaper

advert backing as for minimum pricing. Just last week, 60 leading

clinicians in England, speaking on behalf of tens of thousands more,

wrote to the newspapers pleading with the UK Government to abandon

their plans to privatise the National Health Service. Those

pleas fell on deaf ears. It now seems inevitable that the Tories,

aided and abetted by the Liberal partners, will break-up the NHS in

England. Our country may not be independent yet, but thankfully,

our NHS is independent. And let me make this very clear, the NHS in

Scotland will remain a public service, paid for by the public and

accountable to the public. There will be no privatisation of the

National Health Service in Scotland. Delegates, for the UK parties, the

independence debate is not about the best interests of Scotland, it

never has been. They just want to keep control of Scotland's

resources. David Cameron gave the game away when he came north last

week to lay claim to the next generation of North Sea oil. Hear

this, David Cameron, it always was Scotland's Coyle, it still is

Scotland's oil and it is time that the Scottish people got the benefit

of it. -- always was Scotland's oil. Devolution has created anomalies,

one of which highlighted in a fringe meeting about broadcasting.

We mentioned going forward in terms of independence, where does the

Scottish digital channels than the light of all this? -- stand? Do we

want to maintain the BBC? People say, close it down. What is

important to people? It will be things like, getting EastEnders. We

need a clear statement about what we want out of the BBC if we get

full devolution and control. These are big questions. Part of that is

to have influence in terms of the licence fee, representation in the

BBC Trust, we have some concessions there. There are some things in

terms of what will be done in Westminster, pursuing some

amendments to make sure that we have, under devolution, a better

influence. But we have to make sure we have a range of choice on the

digital network to make sure that we have one alternative you. Within

that. -- An alternative point within that.

Angus Robertson, who masterminded the election campaign, outlined his

strategy to drive on a yes vote in the independence referendum.

will work as hard as possible in an unprecedented national campaign to

secure a majority yes vote for a sovereign independent Scotland.

CHEERING. So... LAUGHTER. We will start by

galvanising and motivating members and supporters. We will start by

working with the many supporters of independence with no party

affiliation and was of other parties. We will engage with

different sectors of society to raise confidence, optimism and

understanding of the independence case. We will reach out within

communities, door by a door, street by street, in the most

unprecedented campaign of globalisation and communication by

the SNP and in the history of Scottish politics. Already at a

national level, we have started the necessary project planning,

including research and brand development. We are Updating the

activate system to deliver the best computer support. We have also

started the necessary financial planning to properly fund the

independence campaign. And today, I am delighted to confirm that the

Independent's campaign has been generously supported by the late,

great Scot's poet, Edwin Morgan, with the substantial contribution

of �918,000, which is ring-fenced for the referendum campaign.

Following him, Finance Secretary, John Swinney, giving a flavour of

how nationalists plan to take on those who will argue that Scotland

cannot afford to go it alone. course, the forces of negativity

will tell us that Scotland cannot stand on her own two feet. Let me

give you a taste of what we will see about that. As the global

economy recovers from recession, all countries run a deficit, but

the UK deficit is higher than that in Scotland. In four of the last

five years, Scotland has run a budget surplus. The UK was in

deficit of each of those five years. Scotland contributes more to do you

keep in tax revenue than we get back in UK public spending. --

contributes more to the UK. Scotland is contributing to the

United Kingdom, our country pays its way. The figure sure that, with

a geographical share of off-shore Resources, Scotland would be the

6th wealthiest country in the world, 10 places ahead of the UK. This is

the time it to put the wealth of Scotland to work or the people of

Scotland. Alex Salmond's keynote address focused on what he sees as

the achievements of his Government. He spoke about energy and made

clear his opposition to interference from Westminster on

the vote on independence. A good phrase, that humanity of the realm,

a concept developed in medieval Scotland to describe an idea of

community identity be on sectional interest. The best Scots term would

be the common Weal. It does not ignore the fact that, sometimes as

a government, we have to take sides with in Scotland as well as taking

Scotland's side, particularly when times are difficult, asking the

rich to help the poor, the strong to help the weak, the parable to

help the powerless. Right now, that focuses on jobs than the economy.

John Swinney spends every waking minute to encourage businesses to

grow and attract new country -- attract new companies to Scotland.

We have the most competitive business tax resumed across the

silence. 80,000 small businesses either pay no rates or have

substantial discounts. We know that their success is the key to future

job creation. We shall continue to or for a crucial incentives. The

Small Business Bonus stays in SNP Scotland. -- continue to offer

crucial incentives. But also, in the last few months, a procession

of major international companies have chosen Scotland as the place

to conduct business. The message has been the same, Scotland has the

people and resource to allow them to conduct international operations

from its Scottish base. What have the UK Government focused on? That

is why must we focus on jobs and investment? They have formed a

Cabinet sub-committee to attack Scottish independence. Cameron,

cloud, Oswald, Alexander work on a committee looking at doing down

Scotland while the youth -- whilst the European Monetary System brings

on collapse, whilst inflation is more than double its target. These

politicians wonder why be carried no conference -- while -- the

wonder why they carry no confidence. The message is clear. Stop

attacking Scottish aspirations and start supporting economic recovery.

Scotland, our country, has the great history of energy resources

in Europe. On Thursday, I went to announce the redevelopment of the

great fabrication site. Thousands of jobs can be developed. Marine

engineering will come alive and the Highlands of Scotland. Today, I

announce another important development in the journey to lead

in wave and tidal power. A new fund to support Marine Energy

commercialisation. His words -- this will support the development

of scaling up devices currently on test in Scottish waters. This is

part of a �35 million investment over three years supporting the

testing technology, infrastructure and deployment. Scotland is leading

the race to develop off-shore renewables. Our nation moves up

another gear. The message is clear, in Marine Energy, Scotland rules

the waves. In the way to Inverness, on Thursday, I noticed an outdoor

company called no limits. It is a beautiful idea. But it carries more

punch for the Scots. No limits to ambition, your courage, your

journey. It sums up the spirit of freedom that many of us take from

the magnificent landscape in which we wish for society and for

politics. It is the same spirit that was reflected in the world of

Charles Stewart Purnell. No man has the right to fix the boundary of a

march of the nation. No man should say to his country, you should go

no further. The days of Westminster politicians telling Scotland what

to do, or what to think, a Rover. The Scottish people will set the

agenda for the future. -- those days are over.

Brian Taylor joins me. You can feel the electricity amongst delegates

looking ahead to the independence referendum. The First Minister

signalled he would be prepared to consider your Pope -- consider the

option of devolution max. How are some members feeling about this?

Given the extent of the prize, -- Given the extent of the prize,

which they have fought for for the whole existence, it would be

unsurprising that some people did not question this. I do think it is

only one or two. I was astonished by the extent of tolerance and

leeway given to Alex Salmond, given he is deferring their referendum

for a few more years. I thought there would be more than a party

saying to get on with it. We had Angus Robertson setting out in

great detail the strategy. He says, starting now, with independence

ambassadors going out to every street in Scotland, although be a

referendum being deferred, they are not wasting time. They are very

much focusing on the independence option, not the alternative

proposal that may be on the ballot paper. There must be a lot of party

members pinching themselves that they are in this position. John

Swinney said he first came as a teenager to an SNP conference and,

30 years on, he finds himself at the forefront of by the

independence referendum. Something he questioned would ever happen in

his career. The mood of this conference has been ecstatic. It

has also been contained and controlled ecstasy. People know

they still have to fight that battle. In the conference hall,

they are talking to the converted. It is now time to convince the rest

of Scotland. The rival parties will vigorously pursue the case for

containing -- for continuing the union.