Category: Scottish Politics

Scot Govt Announce 2023 Referendum Plan

Nicola Sturgeon’s full statement announcing the 2023 independence referendum First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has now announced the path to Scotland’s independence referendum, set the date to 19 October 2023, and published the Scottish Independence Referendum Bill. Read her full statement below, delivered in the Scottish Parliament on 28 June 2022. Presiding Officer, The campaign to establish this Parliament was long and hard. It was rooted in the belief that self-government would improve the lives of those who live here. And so it has proved. There were – and still are…

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June 6 (2022) Nicola Sturgeon’s speech launching the case for independence

Today, we publish the first in a series of papers – “Building a New Scotland” – that will make afresh the case for Scotland becoming an independent country. An independent country better able to chart our own course here at home and – as the outward looking nation we have always been – play our part in building a stronger, safer, better world. Today, Scotland – like countries across the world – faces significant challenges. But we also have huge advantages and immense potential. The refreshed case for independence is…

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Scottish Parliament Election Results 2021

This is the results page for the Scottish Parliament Elections held on the 6th of May 2021. The SNP will form the next Scottish Government – a historic fourth consecutive win for the party. Pro Independence parties also carried a majority of seats with the SNP and Greens winning 72 of the 129 seats in the parliament. Orkney Islands (Highlands & Islands) Constituency Vote: LIB DEM HOLD – Liam McArthur MSP LDem 7238 (62.4%, -5.4) SNP 3369 (29.1%, +5.2) Con 699 (6%, +1.9) Lab 290 (2.5%, -0.4) Aberdeen Donside (North…

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Council Tax Frozen in Scotland

All 32 local authorities across Scotland have chosen to freeze council tax following a Scottish Government commitment to compensate those who do so. Finance Secretary Kate Forbes said: “With people facing unprecedented challenges and extra pressures, now is a time to work together to provide stability and certainty. “In the budget for the year ahead I took the significant step of providing £90 million to support a national council tax freeze, giving local authorities the option to support families while ensuring there would be no impact on vital local services.…

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First Minister launches Scottish National Investment Bank

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has officially launched the Scottish National Investment Bank. It will be backed by £2bn of Scottish Government funding over the next decade Scot Gov: “It will help to tackle some of the biggest challenges Scotland faces now and in years to come, delivering economic, social and environmental returns.” (SCOT GOV PRESS RELEASE via www.gov.scot) The Scottish National Investment Bank has officially opened for business with the completion of its first major investment. It is the UK’s first mission-led development bank and it is being capitalised by…

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First Minister Statement on EU and UK Government talks

Statement on EU and UK Government talks by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon Commenting on the EU and UK Government talks, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: It is beyond belief that in the midst of a global pandemic and deep recession the Prime Minister is telling Scotland to get ready for a disastrous No Deal Brexit. “With less than three months until the end of the transition period, businesses and people across Scotland will be in despair at this extraordinary statement. “At best this is reckless brinkmanship. At worst it means…

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Nicola Sturgeon: Scotland will always uphold international law

In the early stages of the COVID-19 crisis, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said: “This pandemic is not a war. Nations are not against other nations, soldiers against other soldiers. It is a test of our humanity.” These have been indeed the most testing of times for people in Europe and across the world. We are facing a global public health and economic crisis the like of which we have not seen in our lifetimes. No country, certainly in Europe, can tackle the pandemic alone. Given the speed and extent of…

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Scottish Parliament rejects consent for Internal Market Bill

Parliament rejects consent for “deeply damaging” Bill. The Internal Market Bill should be withdrawn by the UK Government after consent for it was denied by a majority of the Scottish Parliament, Constitution Secretary Michael Russell has said. MSPs backed the Scottish Government’s Legislative Consent Memorandum, which states the Bill threatens devolution and breaches international law. The constitutional convention is that the Westminster Parliament should not legislate in devolved areas without the Scottish Parliament’s consent. The Internal Market Bill should now be withdrawn by the UK Government after consent for it…

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