On the tenth anniversary of Scots going to the polls to vote for the first representatives of a Scottish Parliament for 300 years, the First Minister of Scotland says that Scottish independence is the next step.

The comments of First minister Salmond, who is also the leader of the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) who control a minority Government, comes just two months after a vote in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood that called on the SNP to scrap its plans to hold a referendum next year. The SNP were defeated by 47 votes to 72.

However in his comments on the SNP website Salmond's ambitions for Scotland seemed unruffled. Salmond argued:

"Ten years ago, Scotland changed for the better - and forever.

"Instead of being run by remote control from Westminster, vital areas such as health, education, justice, enterprise and training came within the democratic responsibility of our new Scottish Parliament. As Winnie Ewing said so memorably on the day it first met: 'the Scottish Parliament, which adjourned on 25 March 1707, is hereby reconvened.'

"The new Parliament found its confidence - and has contributed to a new sense of confidence among the people of Scotland.

"Families and business in Scotland are better off for having our own parliament. At the start of devolution, the Scottish unemployment rate was some 25 per cent higher than the UK as a whole. Now, Scotland is outperforming the rest of the UK in these tough times – with unemployment 25 per cent lower, and higher employment levels than south of the Border.

"Even during the current recession, unemployment in Scotland is LOWER than when the Parliament first sat a decade ago - across the UK as a whole it is HIGHER.

"Like all parliaments, we have had robust differences of opinion these last 10 years. And, increasingly, Holyrood has had many quality debates - not least on Iraq in the build up to that misguided military conflict.

"Equally, we have been able to come together as a parliament and a society to agree landmark legislation to improve our nation's quality of life - such as the ban on smoking in public places, and free personal care for the elderly.

"Scotland took another big step forward two years ago with the election of an SNP government. Among 50 key achievements, we have frozen the council tax, slashed business rates, abolished bridge tolls, saved A&E units, scrapped tuition fees, are phasing out prescription charges, delivering 1,000 more police officers, and much more besides.

"Several of the parliament's achievements - such as the smoking ban -were quickly copied by Westminster. And those that have not yet been are the envy of our friends and neighbours south of the Border!

"We have what it takes to build success in Scotland, and with more powers we can achieve even more. That is why I believe independence is the next step for Scotland as we move into the second decade of our Parliament."

Link (voir le site)

(Article prepared by Rhisiart Tal-e-bot)

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

08/05/09

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