Scots should decide their own future

CLACKMANNANSHIRE AND DUNBLANE MSP

The Scottish Government’s Programme for

Government launched last week has at its heart a plan to use the next 12 months to do all it can to build our economy and communities back from the shock of the pandemic.

However it is important to recognise that we are currently experiencing a twin shock of the Covid-19 crisis and also the economic hit of Brexit.

I know from speaking to business leaders and workers from across the Clackmannanshire and Dunblane constituency, that these dual impacts have put at risk jobs and business growth prospects. Many businesses have been brought to the brink, and many sectors have faced and uncertain future.

That’s why I’m pleased that the Programme commits to building an economy that works for all of Scotland’s people and places. The pandemic has brought no good news for anyone, but if there is anything positive to be taken from it, it’s to be found in us all taking stock and working out how we can do things better going forward.

When I stood for re-election earlier this year, I did so on an SNP manifesto that pledged to introduce a Young Person’s Guarantee; ensuring that every young person in Scotland would have a place in employment, education, training, or formal volunteering. This is backed up in the Programme for Government by a commitment to spending £70 million this year alone, which will create around 24,000 new opportunities for young people across a range of sectors.

This is important because younger generations have stood to lose out the most through this pandemic crisis. Brexit also hammers the opportunities of younger people more than any other generation - with freedom of movement being just one of many things we have lost since the start of this year.

However, this must be backed up by measures taken to support sustainable growth in Scotland. Institutions such as the Scottish National Investment Bank will help to grow our economy, and it is to be welcomed that it will receive £1 billion over the course of this parliament in order to do so.

One defining moment of the last parliamentary term was in writing into law Scotland’s commitment to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. This is ambitious, but it can be done. A major focus for this parliament is on a ‘just transition’ as we move away from our reliance on deeply harmful fossil fuels, and over to a more green economy.

The 1980s under Margaret Thatcher’s government taught us what abandoning whole industries can do to jobs, livelihoods, and communities, and we cannot afford to make similar mistakes. The oil and gas sector in Scotland hosts tremendous talent, and we would all benefit from transitioning this talent into highly skilled jobs into green energy sectors.

The First Minister also committed to holding an independence referendum at the earliest opportunity, once we are out of the Covid-19 pandemic crisis - with an aim of doing so by the end of 2023.

I welcome this both as a supporter of an independent Scotland and also as a democrat. The majority of votes in May’s historic election were cast in favour of parties committed to holding an independence referendum within this parliamentary term.

In fact, proindependence parties have the biggest majority in Holyrood since the Parliament was reconvened in 1999.

Those who may oppose independence have a right to their view, but it is the democratic right of the people of Scotland to have their say.

After all, whether Scotland becomes an independent country or remains part of the UK is a matter for the people who live here - nobody else.