SCOTLAND'S SNP FIRST MINISTER ALEX SALMOND'S SPRING CONFERENCE ADDRESS 2009.

SCOTLAND'S SNP FIRST MINISTER ALEX SALMOND'S SPRING CONFERENCE ADDRESS 2009.
ALEX SALMOND’S ADDRESS TO SNP SPRING CONFERENCE 2009. Speaking in his address to the SNP's Spring conference at the Thistle Hotel conference centre in Glasgow, SNP Leader and Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond said: It is a pleasure once again to be here in the great City of Glasgow. We met here last in spring 2007. And how things have changed. Then, it was our hope, our ambition to win the election. Now we are two years into the first SNP Government in history. And for the first time ever this city has SNP constituency representation at every level – Nicola Sturgeon in the Scottish Parliament for Govan and in John Mason the new Member of Parliament for Glasgow East. And alongside them a strong team of regional MSPs and Glasgow City Councillors. In spring 2007 we were looking forward to the election of Bashir Ahmad. Bashir's election to Holyrood in 2007 was a magical moment – a truly significant step forward - both for our Parliament and for Scotland as a whole. In the all too short time which was given to him as an MSP Bashir served this city with passion, with pride and great dedication. And as the first Scots-Asian MSP, he symbolised the very best of our new Scottish democracy – our nation enriched by, indeed united by, diversity. There are so many stories and memories about Bashir that we all share. I will never forget his first speech to our party conference some fourteen years ago. He reminded us that what really matters in Scotland is not where we come from, but where we are going - together. More recently every member of our Parliamentary group will remember that this year, at a crisis point, when the opposition parties had voted down our Budget it was Bashir who rallied the troops – told us to get on with it, pass the Budget or take our case to the people. Bashir was one of the best street campaigners I have ever seen. Ladies of all ages were helped across the road - whether they wanted to go or not! He was also the most patriotic Scot I have ever met. I miss him every day. We all do. For Bashir the destination was independence as it was for Professor Neil MacCormick. Yesterday, many of us were privileged to attend a service of thanksgiving for Neil’s life in the Highland Kirk at Greyfriars in Edinburgh. It was a fitting occasion to mark the passing of one of the towering figures of our movement. I had the great honour of appointing Neil as my adviser and right to the end he played a crucial role in the development of our thinking on the National Conversation and our independence referendum, the purest exercise of the Scottish constitutional principle of the sovereignty of the people. In this world of debased political currency Neil stood out – the gold standard of politics - quality, dignity and principle. It is because of people like Neil MacCormick and Bashir Ahmed – and countless others in the 75 years since our party was formed - that today I stand here before you as First Minister of Scotland. DELEGATES HOW FORTUNATE WE HAVE BEEN TO HAVE HAD PEOPLE OF THE CALIBRE OF BASHIR AND NEIL IN THE RANKS OF OUR MOVEMENT. Because today, I stand - we stand - on the shoulders of giants. Giants who have brought us closer than ever to Independence; people, whose passion and dedication, whose hard work over these 75 years, has delivered the first ever SNP government. 47 Members of a reconvened Scottish Parliament, and, for the first time, parliamentary representation in every Scottish city. Nationwide, a record number of councillors – the most of any party. And just last month, the latest success – the victory of Councillor Craig Melville, giving the SNP, for the first time, responsibility for running the City of Dundee. Now it took just three weeks from the Labour Conference in Dundee for that city to switch to the SNP. The lesson is clear. Nothing concentrates the mind of the people more than being the location of the Labour conference. Seats around Scotland looking for new SNP victories should now campaign to be the venue for Labour Conferences. One will automatically follow the other ------ especially if the Prime Minister turns up to visit. I can’t promise the same three-week turnaround from this conference. But in three years we CAN win this great city of Glasgow for the SNP. Delegates, last month in his conference speech Iain Gray mentioned the SNP 25 times. He mentioned me a further 13. Some people would call that obsessive! In contrast he managed a mere two mentions of the economy, two mentions of recovery. Delegates, that will not be my approach. This will not be a speech of attack lines on the Labour Party or Mr Gray – because, we are the Scottish National Party not the anti-Labour Party. THE HEART OF OUR POLITICS IS POSITIVE NOT NEGATIVE, WE STAND FOR OPTIMISM NOT PESSIMISM, THE FUTURE NOT THE PAST. THE SNP IS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE, THE PRO-SCOTLAND PARTY. And, above all, I will not take a negative approach because I know the people of Scotland expect more. We saw the Scottish Parliament at its worst when our Budget was defeated for the first time at the beginning of this year. And we saw our Parliament at its best when, a few days later, parties united to vote the Budget through. I was proud to lead a government that was open to the ideas of other parties – and agreed additional action on climate change and fuel poverty; new support for our town centres and increased investment in apprenticeships. Now, as then, is a time for Scotland to pull together. Because we face unprecedented challenges. So this will be a speech about the economy, about recovery – about our plan to make sure Scotland is well placed to recover first and recover fastest. Delegates, we meet as the international community has seen a virtually unprecedented shock, reverberating from the markets to the high streets to homes around the world. I could read you statistics that tell you that employment is holding up better in Scotland than in the rest of the UK, indeed much of Europe - and that's true. Our unemployment is lower; our employment is higher as is our economic activity rates. But statistics should not obscure the people - the families - behind each job loss. To allow statistics to hide that this crisis is personal to them and their families is to forget the very people we were elected to serve who now need answers - and action - the most. I can't stand here and tell people exactly WHEN this downturn will end. No one can. But I can tell them that it WILL end and indeed HOW it will end. It will end with investment. Public investment in education and skills; Investment in jobs and communities; Investment in innovation and our industries of the future. That public investment will in turn spark the economic confidence which will lead to the private investment which will restart growth. Or to paraphrase a previous President of the United States: Together, we’ve got what it takes to weather this economic storm. Of that, I have no doubt. We’ve got what it takes to learn the hard lessons – and yes we have lessons to learn; We have banks who drifted away from their generational values of canny, cautious integrity. Therefore we should rebuild on our traditional strengths - and they are numerous. We have deep roots – strong foundations for us to build and grow. To seize new opportunities. And we are blessed with many – in energy, life sciences and the creative industries, to name just a few. Delegates, Scotland’s Got What It Takes To Flourish, To Prosper. To Overcome Recession. Just As We’ve Got What It Takes To Become An Independent Country. On Thursday the UK Cabinet met in Glasgow – meeting for the first time in Scotland since 1921, when Lloyd George brought his Cabinet to Inverness. And of course, just one year later, that Prime Minister LOST a general election! But as we face down the economic crisis and take forward our economic recovery plan, it is time for a new way of working. I believe the right approach for our nation would have been a joint meeting of the Scottish and UK Cabinets to discuss how together we can meet the challenge of this downturn. It would have allowed us to discuss how best to co-ordinate devolved and reserved responsibilities in the interests of families and communities across our country. I was disappointed that the Prime Minister rejected this partnership approach. It was a missed opportunity. A year ago at this spring conference I announced that the Scottish cabinet would meet in different parts of the country so that ministers could hear the views and concerns of wider Scottish society. That step has helped the Scottish Government keep close to the communities we serve. Now, as we re-double our efforts to protect Scotland from the worst impact of the recession and prepare our nation to recover first and strongest a team approach is even more important. That is why Cabinet will engage even further with our social partners. I will be inviting the STUC, business organisations, local government, the third sector and Scotland’s Faith Groups to meet with the Scottish Cabinet in the weeks ahead, so that together we can chart Scotland’s way out of this downturn. And delegates, I will even ask the Scottish Secretary to come and explain UK government policy. We have a plan for recovery but as we move forward we will always remain open to views and new ideas. That is how we have governed. Some of our most successful initiatives have been brought to us by our social partners – this year in Scotland tens of thousands of small business either have reduced business rates or no rates at all. That was an idea first brought forward by the Small Business Federation. We are introducing an apprenticeship guarantee to help youngsters affected by redundancy to complete their training – an idea brought to us by the STUC based on the Northern Irish experience. As a nation we’ve got what it takes and I know we will achieve more when all of Scotland is united and working together. Delegates, education is the foundation on which the wealth of our nation is built and it is on the foundation of skills that we will build our economic recovery. Every extra pound we spend on the education and skills of the people of Scotland will hasten our recovery. That’s why, when we saw the first signs of the looming recession the Government acted quickly to accelerate crucial European funding. And today, I am proud to announce new action, with a further £25 million being made available to support skills and training – money that will make a big difference for families and individuals right across Scotland. Supporting skills initiatives like Adam Smith College’s CREATE project to increase access to Further Education and Lifelong Learning through eLearning. Money that will provide more help to those facing redundancy, helping them to find a quick route back into the labour market through training and advice. DELEGATES THE FUNDS THAT I AM ANNOUNCING TODAY WILL HELP OFFER NEW OPPORTUNITES – NEW SKILLS – TO 75,000 OF OUR FELLOW SCOTS. Many of you remember all too well the damage that was done in the early eighties when an uncaring London Government walked away from the effects of a recession. They left a generation to struggle with the impact on jobs, on families, on lives. Our Government knows Scotland’s got what it takes to equip our people with the skills they need. And Scotland’s got what it takes to help people hit by redundancy back into work. Delegates, I am proud that the SNP is Scotland’s Party – and we will not walk away. And today, our economic recovery plan is delivering jobs and protecting communities. Our capital investment this year will protect 50,000 jobs in construction and manufacturing across Scotland – and our Economic Recovery Plan many thousands more. The creation and protection of jobs is our top priority – that is what our country needs and it is what we are determined to deliver. That’s why I am announcing today the acceleration of a further £70 million of European funding. Funds that will focus on business growth, urban regeneration and rural development. Supporting projects like the John Logie Baird initiative here in Glasgow to create a national centre for innovation Or, the ambitious Rural Action Plan for Moray, supporting local business, education and sustainable travel. And the West of Scotland Loan Fund to support new and growing businesses. Many businesses that are unable to get the backing they need from the banks will find a new means of financial support. Delegates this new funding will be rolled out to projects across the country. IN TOTAL THEY WILL SUPPORT THE CREATION OF A FURTHER 8000 SCOTTISH JOBS. Our actions for recovery are focused not only on supporting the industries and jobs of today – we have our sights firmly set on investment in the industries of the future. Helping us create greater breadth and depth – a new economy for the new society that will emerge, stronger, here in Scotland after the recession. Industries where our nation can and will be a world leader. Make no mistake that the countries that get out of this crisis first will be those whose citizens invent new ways to replace the old. And we have every reason to be confident in our people and in our future. Because innovation is at the heart of Scottish economic history. The thread that connects James Watt, to James Napier and Alexander Graham Bell, runs through to the 20th century innovators that brought the world Dolly the sheep and the MRI scanner and to the 21st century scientists who are working in laboratories and classrooms on the next breakthroughs in Alzheimers, diabetes and harnessing the very tides and waves around our shores. 100 years ago Scotland powered the industrial revolution with exports of coal, steel and engineering. Today we can power the new green revolution. Already Scotland’s is recognised world-wide for our expertise and ambition in renewable energy. And this government is determined to turn these advantages – our comparative and competitive edge - into jobs and prosperity for our nation. During my visit last week, China's top economic planning body, the National Development and Reform Commission, confirmed China’s determination to co-operate with Scotland on marine wind-powered electricity and industries with low carbon emissions. The door to the world’s largest market of the future is open. And the door is also open in the largest market of today. Earlier this year, when I met the US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton, and we spoke about the Saltire Prize, she agreed that this was a great example of a small country making a big difference to a global challenge. And within days of that meeting one enterprising Scottish energy company, Proven Energy from Ayrshire, was using it to promote their wind turbines – turbines that are already in the top 3 in the United States. The two most powerful and influential nations in the world, both fully aware of our contribution – Scotland’s place at the forefront of international efforts to meet the green energy challenge. And delegates I am delighted to be able to confirm today that the Saltire Prize – the largest single innovation prize for marine renewables – formally launched only 4 months ago now has 100 entries from 23 countries worldwide. Have no doubt, the Saltire Prize will be transformational – bringing forward by a decade or more the harnessing of electricity from our seas. In his inauguration address President Obama said it was his ambition to power America by capturing the energy of the sun and the wind – I thought great - that leaves the tides and the waves to Scotland! Or as Fortune magazine put it – Scotland rules the waves! We’ve got what it takes to lead the world in this potentially planet saving technology. We have ambitious and innovative companies – big and small. In Beijing I was delighted to open the new offices of SgurrEnergy. Sgurr is gaelic for distinct mountain peak – the Chinese subsidiary is called Feng Neng Sgurr which is mandarin and gaelic for - a really distinct mountain peak! This young Scottish company that has just won the contract to assess the wind energy potential off China’s coast. They believe they can become the world’s largest renewable energy consultancy and they are well on their way to achieving that ambition. Delegates, we think of China as a huge country compared to Scotland – with 1.3 billion people compared to our 5 million. However Scotland’s coastline is almost 12,000 km, compared to 18,000 km for China. That’s why we are big players – and potential world beaters – for marine energy. And set to deliver 16,000 green energy jobs – across Scotland – over the next decade. Even through this downturn, over £1 billion of renewable energy projects have been announced. And it is not only in renewable energy that the opportunities are vast. In Life Sciences Scotland is already well placed – and already turning our excellence in research into jobs and investment here in Scotland. Delegates, as a nation we have a poor health record, but we have the very best of health records. We have, and it has to be said sometimes inflicted upon ourselves, every condition known to modern man but my goodness we have documented every single one of them with meticulous care. These records are now a substantial asset in the development of our life science sector. Combined, of course, with the intellectual firepower of our academic institutions working together this is a winning combination. And that doesn’t just mean jobs and prosperity in a growing sector it means Scottish led breakthroughs in some of the diseases which still cause the most suffering – diabetes, cancer, MS and Alzheimers. And now as we open the new laboratories across our key medical campuses in partnership with some of the world’s greatest pharmaceutical companies never has public money gone to such a worthy cause. Delegates, the SNP and Scottish Government stands full-square behind these industries of today and of the future. With the right approach and our support – as we take forward our plan for economic recovery – I have no doubt these industries and others will flourish. And Scotland too will flourish. Seizing the opportunities as they emerge – with initiatives like Homecoming which will this year bring thousands of extra visitors to our shores. And as part of Homecoming, our Drive it Home golf campaign sold out within a week. More than 12,000 additional golfers from across the world will travel to the Home of Golf this year. And this July, the largest Clan Gathering in history will bring over 30,000 people to Holyrood Park and a further 40,000 race fans will make their way to Stirlingshire and Perthshire as Scotland hosts the inaugural Intercontinental Rally Challenge in November. These are just a few snapshots of the Homecoming campaign. And delegates, I am confident that we will exceed our target of generating an extra £40m in Scottish tourism revenue and 100,000 additional visitors to our shores, turning around the threatened downturn and giving our tourism industry a huge boost in this tough economic climate. Delegates, Scotland’s got what it takes. With investment in education, in jobs and in the industries of today and tomorrow. That is the core of our plan – a plan that is in place, a plan that is protecting our nation from the worst impact of the recession. And it is a plan that will leave us well placed to recover. We are prioritising jobs and working flat out to beat this recession, but next week, with the UK Budget there is a danger - the risk of being blown off course. The impact of recession is felt, not only in demands for extra social security spending. It places big demands too on our health service, in education and on housing budgets. On Scottish budgets. Delegates I am a big supporter of President Obama’s approach to recovery and of his plans to stimulate the US economy. As much as 60% of extra US spending is to be delivered at State level, because it is at State level they are able to identify and deliver ‘shovel ready’ projects and get an immediate impact in terms of jobs. And in the USA more will be invested in recovery next year than this – recognising that as the upturn comes, public investment can have an even greater impact and provide real impetus to growth. I was on Fox Business News the day that the President announced his $787 billion fiscal stimulus. Six Republican Governors said they weren’t sure if they would accept the money and I was asked to comment. I said listen if there is a problem Scotland stands ready to step into the breach – we are available to play our part in the programme! The serious point is this. The state of Maryland, is about the same size as Scotland. It can look forward to $3 billion extra in new investment to help contribute to economic recovery most of it next year, in 2010. How ridiculous it would be then if a Chancellor and a Prime Minister from Scottish constituencies threatened to cut Scotland’s budget – our public investment – by £1 billion: and in doing so undermined recovery. A few weeks ago we were discussing these matters in London and Rhodri Morgan, the Welsh First Minister, and a Labour politician, told the Prime Minister that the Archangel Gabriel could not find such proposed cuts without damaging public services. Let there be no mistake. If the Prime Minister and the Chancellor were to pursue such a policy then the people of Scotland will have their say, within weeks at the European elections and in months at the general election. They will not easily forgive any politician or any party that stands in the way of Scotland’s recovery. Delegates, I ran for First Minister because I believe that Scotland’s future is as a prospering nation, thriving at home and playing its part in the world. I am here, in this position of responsibility and trust, as First Minister, to lead Scotland through this difficult time. That is my job and my focus. As a party we care about success for Scotland – we are passionate about our nation; confident in Scotland’s talents and abilities. We’ve got what it takes to recover strongly – to grow, and to prosper. And we’ve got what it takes to become a full and flourishing independent nation. Our job – in the SNP and the Scottish Government - is to work hard through these difficult days, and then with the people of Scotland we will move to a different time - a brighter, stronger and independent future.