Swinney: My Government will be relentlessly focused on people’s priorities

The Scottish Government will be “relentlessly focussed” on the the public’s priorities, First Minister John Swinney has pledged.

Mr Swinney is to use a series of events over the course of what will be his second full week in office to show Scots how his administration will “deliver for them in the areas they care about the most”.

The new SNP leader has already made plain his determination to tackle child poverty.

He said:

“In the week ahead, I will set out to the people of Scotland how I intend to deliver for them in the areas they care about the most: growing the economy and creating jobs; supporting vital public services like the National Health Service and schools; tackling the climate emergency and eradicating the curse of child poverty once and for all.”

With the SNP having been in power in Scotland for 17 years, he said the party had a “proud track record in Government”, Mr Swinney added that “across the country,

An estimated 100,000 children are not in poverty this year

people can see the benefits”.

The First Minister said: “Since we brought in free tuition, there has been a 31 per cent increase in Scottish students entering university.

“The Scottish Child Payment is contributing to ensuring an estimated 100,000 children are not in poverty this year.

“There is nearly £90 billion of green investment taking place over the next three years, and since 2007, economic and productivity growth in Scotland has outpaced the rest of the UK. That is what SNP government at its best can achieve with a focus on the people’s priorities – and that is the approach I will ensure we deliver.”

However, he said he wanted Scots to “judge me on my actions, rather than my words” with the First Minister saying: “In the coming week, I will set out concrete steps on how we will take forward that focussed delivery.”