SNP PAST THEIR SELL-BY DATE
Sturgeon’s ‘tired’ legislative plans panned by critics – but First Minister refuses to rule out new independence vote
NICOLA Sturgeon’s Government was yesterday branded ‘past its sell by-date’ after critics attacked her ‘retreaded’ plans for the year.
The First Minister published proposals for 12 flagship Bills, including pledges relating to the economy, justice and education.
Miss Sturgeon had hoped her Programme for Government would put the focus back on policy after explosive allegations made against former SNP leader Alex Salmond threatened to divide the party.
She said her ministers would ‘deliver on our vision of a healthier, wealthier and fairer Scotland’, with key announcements including £7billion of investment for schools, hospitals and other public projects, and extra funding for mental health services.
But Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: ‘I suppose every Government runs its natural course. Based on this programme, this Government’s sell-by date is well past.’
And Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said the SNP programme was ‘not so much a relaunch as a retread’.
She added: ‘This is the agenda that the SNP wants for the year ahead: timorous, tinkering, tired. The questions we have to ask are, first of all, why is it like this? And
second, can’t we get something better?’
On the first day back at Holyrood following the summer recess yesterday, Miss Sturgeon announced:
An additional investment of £7billion in schools, hospitals, housing, transport, green technology and digital connections between now and 2025-26;
Legislation to create a national investment bank will be published in the next 12 months;
A consultation on controversial proposals to give some prisoners the right to vote, and to give EU citizens their say in Holyrood and council elections after Brexit;
A ‘package of measures’ to better protect victims of crime – although this falls far short of reforms demanded by campaigners;
New ‘protective orders’ will be considered, which could allow perpetrators of domestic abuse to be banned from their homes;
New funding of £250million over five years to boost mental health provision, including more counsellors and nurses in schools and men- tal health training for teachers;
More powers for headteachers over school budgets, the curriculum and staffing – but key elements of the SNP’s Education Bill have been scrapped;
A ban on plastic-stemmed cotton buds and the implementation of a deposit return scheme by the end of next year;
Legislation to end some business rates reliefs, which will see private schools forced to pay more;
A new ‘implementation plan’ to improve hospital waiting times;
The introduction of a ‘Best Start’ maternity grant.
The Programme for Government sets ministers’ key priorities for the next 12 months.
The First Minister had been urged to rule out a second independence referendum.
However, Miss Sturgeon claimed ‘it is clear that an increasing number of our fellow citizens believe, as we do, that the best future for Scotland lies in becoming an independent country’.
She added: ‘This Programme for Government will be impacted by Brexit, but it is not defined by it. Instead, it sets out how we intend to deliver on our vision of a healthier, wealthier and fairer Scotland.’
Miss Sturgeon said her plan to increase capital spending will be funded partly by traditional borrowing, while the Scottish Futures Trust will also examine private sector ‘profit-sharing’ initiatives.
The SNP leader said: ‘Last year’s programme set us on a path to address the big challenges faced by Scotland and developed economies around the world and it presented a clear vision of the kind of country we want to be.
‘This programme flows from that vision and builds on the progress of the last year and indeed the last decade. And it ensures that we remain focused on delivering for today and investing for tomorrow.
‘It continues and accelerates the major reforms under way in our health, education and justice systems – underpinned by our new progressive system of income tax.’
Miss Davidson said: ‘When it comes to today’s offering, the Scottish public would be entitled to ask “is that it?”
‘This is Nicola Sturgeon’s third Programme for Government and already she is playing catch-up. After her much heralded relaunch last year – with 15 new Bills – we see 13 of them are still in a holding pattern with only two having passed.
‘It’s not so much a relaunch as a retread, and a hangover from last year.’
Mr Rennie added: ‘After 11 years in power, this Government is showing all the signs of being at the end, searching around for new ideas, the old ideas are being found out, the performance of public services is on the slide.’
Andrew McRae of the Federation of Small Businesses said: ‘Increased infrastructure spending should make Scotland a better place to do business. But we need to ensure that we squeeze every drop of value from this taxpayer spending with new efforts to help Scottish small firms win public contracts. Further, new roads are of little use if we’re not maintaining the ones we already have.’ Ruth Davidson and Comment – Page 18
‘The old ideas are being found out’