What our politicians are looking for in 2018
FM makes young people her priority for 2018
Improving the lives of young people will be at the heart of the Scottish Government’s plans for 2018, according to Nicola Sturgeon.
In her New Year message, the First Minister vowed to celebrate the “incredible contribution” made by youths across the country during Scotland’s Year of Young People.
She said: “We will take steps to strengthen young people’s rights, and ensure that they have an even louder voice in decisions about their own lives.
“By investing for the future, we’re working to ensure that the years ahead are bright ones for Scotland.”
Prime Minister Theresa May predicted that Brits will feel a “renewed confidence and pride” in 2018 as the UK makes progress on Brexit. The UK Tory leader said that although leaving the EU was “crucial”, it was “not the limit of our ambitions” and claimed her policies would lead to a “stronger and fairer” society.
After losing her deputy Damian Green and former defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon over allegations of inappropriate behaviour, Mrs May said that everyone had the “right to be treated with respect” and “that means safe workplaces, free from harassment”.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn declared the party was “staking out the new centre ground” in British politics.
“The old political consensus is finished,” he said. “We are a government in waiting, while the Conservatives are weak and divided and stuck in an outdated rut with no new ideas.”
Meanwhile, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson praised the public’s willingness to be “patient with a politics of turmoil” as she used her message to focus on sporting events and the Year of Young People.
Scottish Labour boss Richard Leonard said the New Year should see the Scottish Parliament focus on economic transformation and radical change to tackle growing poverty and inequality.
In their New Year message, Scottish Green Party co-conveners Maggie Chapman and Patrick Harvie said 2018 could be a year of progress on human rights and public services.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said Scotland must become the “outward-looking, optimistic nation that it has traditionally been” as he made a staunch defence of immigration.