11/03/2012 Scottish National Party Conference

Welcome to Glasgow and the SNP Spring Conference. And the party

has still got a spring in its step after last year's resounding

victory. But of course, the eyes of every nationalist are on the

ultimate prize of independence. Political debate has been dominated

by the independence referendum. If the SNP get their way, it will be

in two-and-half years time, but the party know they still have a lot of

persuading to do to secure a yes vote. The Deputy First Minister was

the first to try and rallied the troops for the long-term pain ahead.

Welcome to the great city of Glasgow for what is aware biggest

event. There will be no end to seats for Our Leader's speech this

weekend! -- empty. Delegates, an awful lot has changed in Scottish

politics since we met here in this city, in this very hall this time

last year. Cast your minds back. Back then we were up 15 points a

drift in the opinion polls. I was the only constituency SNP in the

City of Glasgow. In fact this venue was situated in a Labour

constituency. Our election chances were being written off. But as

delegates, we still believed and less than two months later, we won

an unprecedented overall majority in the Scottish parliament. So let

us send a very clear message from this conference this weekend. It is

our intention, delegates, to work hard to persuade the people of

Scotland of our cares of independence and to win a

resounding Yes vote in the referendum in 2014. But the bigger

rallying cry was from the First Minister himself. The man who has

put his party within striking distance of achieving its principal

aim. Today in every town in every community we are working as never

before to make Scotland the country we walked know it can be. Building

recovery, creating opportunities, working for a Scotland that can

truly prosper. A strong economy and a just society. In the January --

in January, the Prime Minister tried to lay down the law about the

referendum. I have a message for Westminster - the days of

Westminster at telling Scotland what to do and what to think, these

days are over! Of home wrought with independence beats Tory ball from

Westminster any time and any day. Because, delegate, there is a

simple and winning truth about independence. It is fundamentally

better for our nation's to make decisions about ourselves. Those

decisions must be taken by the people here who care the most about

Scotland. We have the greatest stake in our nation's well-being.

In good times and bad, the people of Scotland will work harder and

care most. No-one will do a better job than the people living here.

With the people of Scotland in charge, devising our own politics.

We will make our country better. That is our message of hope for

this nation. We know achievements are being made with the power that

Scotland already has. We have seen the progress as a country that has

been made in those areas where our nation already has some

independents. In aware National Health Service - record low waiting

times. Hide job satisfaction within the area of health workers. We were

once told there were no alternatives to our policies. On

the health service, we are showing a were friends in England there is

an alternative, and let me be clear. Because of the Independent we have

over Scotland's National Health Service, this SNP government will

make sure that Scotland's NHS service is never for sale. On

health, education, law and order, we have made Scotland a better

place. Think what we could do if Scottish control of the economy, if

international representation, it security was ours. Delegates, the

lesson is a simple one. A little independence has been good for

Scotland, but real independence Of the 10 countries that join the

European Union in 2004, a majority had become independent since 1990

and Scotland is bigger than six of these 10. Each and every one of

these nations have a seat at Europe's top table, a right that

Scotland should embrace. They can speak with their own voices, and we

do the same. We stand on our own two feet, but we don't stand on our

own. At 21st century Social Union replacing a political union that

has long passed its sell-by date. It will require effort and

commitment to make our country as good as we know it can be. A

Scotland that is better than the one we have today. A more

successful Scotland that we can pass on proudly to future

generations. So let us now heed the words - go forward into the

community of nations to lend an were owned independent ways to the

As well as the big speeches, conference had several debates. In

a resolution on Trident, there was a speech from one of the party's

senior members. Have you noticed that these various people who

propose some form of devolution or something another, say that foreign

affairs and defence can be left to Westminster. That is absurd because

they are the most dangerous aspects of politics. British governments,

Westminster governments are traditionally desirous and clinging

to the illusion that Britain is still a great power were. It isn't.

It makes them a puppet of the United States. The extraordinary

thing about the British Government and nuclear weapons is their policy

is so contradictory. They are in favour internationally to reduce

nuclear weapons and encourage other countries not to go nuclear, but on

the other hand, not only do they maintain nuclear weapons, but they

are proposing to renew them and strengthen them at great expense.

The more intimate setting of small fringe settings allows for personal

experience to inform party policy. On Saturday one of the lunchtime

topics was held. We hold close to our hearts and notion of an NHS

that is free at the point of need, I paraphrase, but how we are going

to achieve that with the pressures on our system, I think it is the

kind of challenge that Scotland has to stand up and rise to. My mother

died on Tuesday morning in a borders General Hospital and I saw

in all the times that I visited her down there, I did not see a single

patient under 70. I sat with a nurse who was breaking it to me

that my mother did not have long and we got into a conversation

about the number of older people and the impact of dementia, which

thankfully my mother did not suffer from, but at least 50 % of the

people in that hospital do. She sat there with tears in her eyes and

said how worried she was about how we were going to be able to meet

this need into the future. When we look at the joining of health and

social care, there are issues about post natal care. We are seen in

women and die of post natal infections that we have never seen

for -- that we have not seen for a long time. I need some reassurance

around post natal care, that it will not be seen as an easy target

and women and their babies will not suffer. Once we get our

independence then we can stop the billions of pounds on Trident

replacements, Wigan have different priorities in Scotland and that is

what we can look after our elderly people and the most vulnerable

sections of a what population. We are a which country. We owe wit to

hour country to eradicate the poverty that so many live in.

is a chance for delegates to submit their questions to senior members

of the Scottish government. One was about overseas aid after

independence. It has been long- standing party policy to spend 0.7

% of our GDP on international aid. Will this be a priority for you in

an independent Scotland? It will. This party's record on

international development is long and strong. Twenty-five years ago

when I joined this party, one of the reasons was because I knew the

commitment to international development. That will be part and

parcel of the type of thing independent Scotland will be

protecting. It is about what we contribute as a country

internationally. The anti-social behaviour in our towns is drink-

related. What can we do to tackle a would be used culture? We have to

look at ourselves. Individuals have to look at themselves. We are not

prohibitionists as a government. I was out last night with a friend I

had not seen for a while. We had a good time, but I can remember

having a good time. That is a problem we face. Before, you used

to save up for a good night and you could remember what happened. Sadly,

we have a culture that has changed. It doesn't happen overnight. You do

have to have legislation. You do have to bring in an Jones on how

Algol is priced and promoted and we will not hesitate to do that. I

think we have reached the tipping point in Scotland. I think we now

realise it is not funny any more. We cannot go on as we are. Alcohol

is there to be enjoyed, but when it is abused, the consequences can be

The Union Flag may have been flying close to the conference venue, but

it wouldn't bear the flag of an independent Scotland. The S&P --

SNP believes that social union between Scotland and England can be

maintained, even strengthened. are all products, all children of

the Social Union between Scotland and England, which has existed long

before the Union of 1707 and will exist long after. We all have

friends and relatives in England and across all the countries of the

British Isles. We share commercial, sporting and eighth ties which will

continue. Not only will these social links and social union

continue after independence, it will strengthen and prosper. For

there will be forged a new foundation as at the resolution

makes clear, of national respect, mutual co-operation and the right

to national self-determination. Scotland has led the way in so many

areas of policy development, the smoking ban and minimum pressing

for alcohol. We can set precedents. We can address policy challenges

fairly. These in turn can be adopted by other jurisdictions of

these islands, according to their own circumstances. We can lead the

way with innovation, integrity and, above all, respect. I'm standing

here as the product of a very happy Social Union from an English mother

and a Scots father, like many other people in here. I get very cross

when I hear anybody berating his party am saying we are anti-English.

My mother campaigned for 40 years for Scotland's independence. There

are many English people in this party and non-English people in

this party who are very much for Scotland's independence. I'm from

Perth, in the northern part of Great Britain. I'm as much British

as somebody from Stockholm. People in our nation still feel British,

and that's why, after independence that will still be there and we

will still have that Social Union, and if some people relate to that

Social Union it is all right. It's find that should continue.

Westminster MP Angus Robertson is leading the referendum campaign. He

spelled out how it is moving forward. Amongst the new materials

we have choices, the questions and answers. This helps undecided

voters understand the exciting prospect of independence. There are

different sections. Why independence is the best option,

the advantages for the economy and jobs, benefits for individuals and

families, affordability, being the right size for independence,

currency continuity, pensions guarantee, the head of state

dealing with financial challenges, better banking, best defence

options, protecting public services, the transition to independence, how

we can govern ourselves and how we will work with other nations. In a

new innovation, this information is also available through I books,

with app functionality. If you are out and about, if you need some

information about the independence process, the facts and the

arguments, you can access that at any time and share with others.

another fringe event the Education Secretary gave a passionate defence

of the curriculum for excellence. wasn't too bad as a student, I

learnt things and remembered things. I didn't know why I was learning

them. I haven't the faintest idea why I was learning them. Even now

I'm not entirely sure if I could tell you via was learning them. You

go into a school like St Peter the apostle in Clydebank, grade school

that I went to to see some of the work a couple of weeks ago. They

have in the school young people who are knowledgeable about those

connections. Who know the skills and aptitudes they are building up.

And know what education is and how we need to deepen. And they love

coming to school. That's the other thing. No head teacher in any

school and Scotland will say anything other than the enjoyment

and challenge that has increased enormously. But we have that job to

finish. We have the examinations, and that's on course. We know this

will go through and we will see something very different coming out

And the debate about independence and economics is fundamental. The

finance secretary, John Swinney, laid out why he thinks their sums

add up, and dismissed claims there is this model has been damaged by

uncertainty over the referendum. The economic challenges that we

face will not disappear with independence. But we are well

placed, indeed better-placed, to meet these challenges head-on and

to make the most of Scotland's opportunities. One of the oft-

repeated argument on this point is that we should have the referendum

sooner rather than later. The argument that our economy is

somehow been damaged by a suppose a delayed does not reflect the

reality of our experience. In the last year, companies like Amazon,

Michelin, Dell and Avalon, amongst many others, have announced a major

investments in Scotland. We've seen major global players in renewables

and manufacturing, like Mitsubishi and Samsung, make real commitment

to Scotland and will deliver jobs and opportunities. On Friday, a

company announced a plan for �1 billion worth of renewable energy

investment, and the transformation of a yard in the Highlands to we

renewable energy hub which is also beginning. These are the real

opportunities that are being delivered day-in and day-out by the

Scottish government. That is a measure of the economic confidence

Last year, Scotland's fiscal position was stronger than the it -

- than the United Kingdom. Scotland contributed... Scotland contributed

9.6 % of UK taxes, but we received only 9.3 % of UK spending in return.

With only 8.4 % of the UK population, we paid more than our

share and we got less back. Last year, we had a �2.6 billion

advantage over the UK. An advantage worth �510 for every man, woman and

child in Scotland. Over the last five years, that advantage totals

�8.6 billion over �1,600 for every man, woman and child in Scotland.

That is the real story of Scotland's finances. Scotland pays

more into the UK than we get back The figures are so compelling and

so persuasive that some of the most strident opponent of independence

now accept that there is no economic barriers standing between

Scotland and independence. Let me quote you some of them. David

Cameron. It would be wrong to suggest that Scotland could not be

another successful independent country. It seems pretty simple.

Ruth Davidson, I believe that Scotland is big enough, rich enough

and good enough to be an independent company. Scotland will

probably be a successful country if it was an independent country. Ian

Gray, I do not think Scotland is too small, too poor or too stupid

to stand on its own. David McLetchie, an independent Scotland

would be viable. They could forget the Secretary of State for Scotland,

you'll never hear me suggest that Scotland could not go its own

weight. -- its own way. The Deputy First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, is

also the Health Secretary. Improving the health of people in

Scotland is a driving priority for our government. Last year, I

announced the detect cancer early initiative. It is an ambitious plan

focused on the three big killer cancers - breast, bowel and lung.

It aims to save 300 lives a year. When we started that programme, we

knew that tackling lung cancer would be particularly difficult.

Scotland has one of the highest rates of lung cancer in the world,

with nearly 5000 people diagnosed each year - double the rate for the

UK as a whole. And it's the most disadvantaged in Scotland who are

at the greatest risk. If it is diagnosed early, you have a 60 %

chance of survival. But if the cancer is well advanced the

survival rate drops to just 1%. Early detection is paramount. That

is why I am delighted to announce today that the Scottish Government

is backing a new, ground-breaking diagnostic test to detect lung

cancer earlier. The test detects what are called auto antibodies in

the blood. The trial of this test works. Make no mistake, it could

lead to lung cancer been diagnosed not just months but years earlier

than it is now. We are the first country in the world to carry out a

structured population assessment of this test. It puts Scotland, as we

have so often been in the past, in the vanguard of medical progress.

It is very early days, but this important innovation really does

have the potential to save lives. I am very proud that Scotland is

One of the duties of a compassionate society is to support

those who care for others. We are one enormous debt to more than

650,000 unpaid carers across Scotland. I want to thank them to

date for the massive contribution that they make. But words of thanks

on not enough. We need to show our support in action. That is why we

have already increased respite care by an extra 10,000 weeks every year.

That support will continue. I can also announce today that over the

next three years, we will give a voluntary sector organisations �9

million to provide short breaks for carers. Carers play a vital role in

society. We can never ever repay them, but we must support them in

every way we can. Our government On minimum pricing and on so many

issues, Labour is just an obstacle to progress. Deaf to the arguments

of health professionals. Blind to the damage that cheap alcohol is

doing to our communities. Labour is still putting petty political

posturing ahead of protecting public health. I know there are

some particularly in the alcohol industry who have concerns about

this policy. Scotland will be the first country to introduce minimum

pricing. Some ask, how can we be sure it will have the effect that

we think it will? I have done, and I will continue did do my very best

to respond to these concerns. Does this week I agreed that the

legislation will have a sunset clause. That will allow us to test

the policy and practice, but give Parliament are built in right to

review it after five years and then decide its future based on the hard

evidence. My message today is this. Let us all respect the will of

Parliament. Let us turn this policy into practice. And let us get on

with the job of sorting out this To provide some analysis I am

joined by our political editor, Brian Taylor. No prizes for

guessing the subject that dominated the conference. If I could single

out one phrase. The First Minister used it in his speech. The Home

Rule of independence. Is there a definite attempt under way to make

independence seemed a bit less scary to sceptics, less of a leap

forward in the dark, more of a natural step on from devolution?

has used the phrase home rule and it exasperated some of his

opponents. The Liberal Democrats said it was their phrase and

enhanced devolution. Alex Salmond is trying to appropriate that an

appropriate devolution as well. Saying independence is in sequence

from devolution. You get devolution and then you go further to

independence. Not a radical jump. The phrase is used repeatedly, it's

the natural condition of Scotland. The normal condition of Scotland,

as Nicola Sturgeon described it. He is trying to offer the reassurances

of the monarchy, the currency and what they called the Social Union.

Party members are going to leave you feeling enthused. But what

really matters to the SNP is to reach out to those people who don't

know how they will vote win the referendum, even some of the people

who would currently say they are opposed to independence. I was

intrigued by the address by Angus Robertson. The presentation was

very technical and serious. He was talking about the way in which they

would run the Yes campaign for independence, that they propose to

launch at the end of May. He argues there's a segment of Scottish

society that is sceptical but persuadable. It they can be given

detailed answers on individual topics such as the economy. He set

out in detail how they intend to go about that task. That is all from