‘The problem is Westminster’ says Nicola Sturgeon

In her speech at the SNP’s annual conference which has taken place in Aberdeen, the Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon said “the problem is not just which party is in power in Westminster – the problem is Westminster”.

She said that even though she disapproves of the Conservatives Labour are no better for Scotland than Labour because they support a hard-Brexit too.

The speech included a mix of immediate policy promises that the government will make, plans to be independent, and jabs at other parties’ failures.

Of course, Scottish Independence was a key feature in Sturgeon’s speech. The Supreme Court will examine whether the current law allows for the Scottish Parliament’s legislation to allow for an independence referendum.


Featured

Nick wins the top spot in the BASC.410 World Championships, for the fourth consecutive time


Featured

MDU logo

MDU urges government to give regulatory reform top priority

“If the Court decides in the way we hope it does, on the 19th October next year, there will be an independence referendum,” she says, adding that if the court decide against it, she will respect the decision as she respects the law.

She says that the decision is now about whether to make the case for independence in an election or abandon Scottish democracy.

“I don’t know about you, well, I think I probably do know about you actually….I will never – ever – give up on Scottish democracy,” she says, to a raucous applause from her audience.

There were countless standing ovations for her promises that “the overwhelming power of democracy” would triumph. Sturgeon clearly demonstrated that she has her party’s support during her speech.

The first minister went on to chastise Westminster, saying that “i

She criticised the prime minister and her predecessor, and what she called a “Tory Misery-Go-Round”, saying that although it was bad enough that the party took three years to realise Boris Johnson was inadequate, “it only took three weeks” for them to realise the same about Liz Truss.

Comparing her new policies with the Conservative “trickle-down economics”, Sturgeon announced that her government will increase the Scottish Child Payment again, this time to £25.

This will be introduced in five weeks and will be extended to families with children up to the age of 16.She also says the quarterly “bridging payments” of £130 will be doubled to £260.

“I hope this investment of almost £20m will bring a bit of Christmas cheer to those who need it most.”

There was a message to staunch unionists too, with the first minister promising that “whatever happens in future, Scotland belongs to you as much as it does to us”.