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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Party leaders in Holyrood clash | Party leaders in Holyrood clash |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Scottish Labour Leader Jack McConnell has given his commitment to serving another full term as first minister, if his party wins the Holyrood election. | Scottish Labour Leader Jack McConnell has given his commitment to serving another full term as first minister, if his party wins the Holyrood election. |
| He told a BBC Scotland leaders debate that he still had plenty of ideas after more than five years in the job. | He told a BBC Scotland leaders debate that he still had plenty of ideas after more than five years in the job. |
| SNP Leader Alex Salmond said he was running for first minister and Annabel Goldie said her Scots Tories could influence from outside government. | SNP Leader Alex Salmond said he was running for first minister and Annabel Goldie said her Scots Tories could influence from outside government. |
| Liberal Democrat Leader Nicol Stephen said people were "fed-up" with Labour. | Liberal Democrat Leader Nicol Stephen said people were "fed-up" with Labour. |
| The party leaders also clashed over council tax and all four declined to discuss coalition options, stressing that power lay with the voters. | The party leaders also clashed over council tax and all four declined to discuss coalition options, stressing that power lay with the voters. |
| Mr McConnell told BBC Scotland's Politics Show that the policies in his party's manifesto would take him at least four years to implement as first minister. | Mr McConnell told BBC Scotland's Politics Show that the policies in his party's manifesto would take him at least four years to implement as first minister. |
| "I've still got plenty of ideas for this job and I think the third term of the Scottish Parliament could be really exciting for Scotland," he said. | "I've still got plenty of ideas for this job and I think the third term of the Scottish Parliament could be really exciting for Scotland," he said. |
| You don't need to be in power to influence the Scottish Parliament Annabel GoldieScottish Conservatives Stalls on council tax set-out | You don't need to be in power to influence the Scottish Parliament Annabel GoldieScottish Conservatives Stalls on council tax set-out |
| "We can build upon the achievements we already have seen in this country - higher employment, lower unemployment, improvements in education health and tackling crime." | "We can build upon the achievements we already have seen in this country - higher employment, lower unemployment, improvements in education health and tackling crime." |
| Mr McConnell said the "big priority" was to ensure that young Scots were among the best educated in the world. | Mr McConnell said the "big priority" was to ensure that young Scots were among the best educated in the world. |
| Mr Salmond said his manifesto was "totally positive" and would make improvements in areas including health, education and the economy. | Mr Salmond said his manifesto was "totally positive" and would make improvements in areas including health, education and the economy. |
| He told the debate programme: "I don't recognise the description of the last few years that Jack McConnell has outlined - I think people are extremely disappointed with the lack of progress." | He told the debate programme: "I don't recognise the description of the last few years that Jack McConnell has outlined - I think people are extremely disappointed with the lack of progress." |
| Mr Salmond said the election campaign had seen a large amount of negativity, from Labour in particular. | Mr Salmond said the election campaign had seen a large amount of negativity, from Labour in particular. |
| He added: "People are ready for a very positive approach and conversation about the future of Scotland." | He added: "People are ready for a very positive approach and conversation about the future of Scotland." |
| Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader Nicol Stephen, who said his party was aiming to be the biggest in Scotland, said it was "never the height of my ambition" to be a minority coalition partner with any party. | Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader Nicol Stephen, who said his party was aiming to be the biggest in Scotland, said it was "never the height of my ambition" to be a minority coalition partner with any party. |
| He said: "People are fed-up with the Labour Party, there's no doubt about that and they don't want independence." | He said: "People are fed-up with the Labour Party, there's no doubt about that and they don't want independence." |
| 'Striking contrast' | |
| Mr Stephen said his party was the only one running on a commitment to gain more powers for the parliament. | Mr Stephen said his party was the only one running on a commitment to gain more powers for the parliament. |
| He added: "We're going to concentrate on the positive issues that make a difference to people's lives - like smaller class sizes, young people and a renewables revolution. | He added: "We're going to concentrate on the positive issues that make a difference to people's lives - like smaller class sizes, young people and a renewables revolution. |
| "The more votes the Liberal Democrats get, the more MSPs we can get elected, the more than we can deliver in government over the next four years. We want to make a difference to people's lives." | "The more votes the Liberal Democrats get, the more MSPs we can get elected, the more than we can deliver in government over the next four years. We want to make a difference to people's lives." |
| Scottish Conservative Leader Annabel Goldie, who has ruled her party out of entering into any coalition with rival parties after the Holyrood election in May, said: "I've made clear you don't need to be in power to influence the Scottish Parliament. | Scottish Conservative Leader Annabel Goldie, who has ruled her party out of entering into any coalition with rival parties after the Holyrood election in May, said: "I've made clear you don't need to be in power to influence the Scottish Parliament. |
| "The Conservatives have led the debate in many important issues in the last eight years and people recognise that." | "The Conservatives have led the debate in many important issues in the last eight years and people recognise that." |
| She added: "I've also made something else very clear that, unlike the other parties, what the policies are for my party are what the tin says - what we offer is what you'll get. | She added: "I've also made something else very clear that, unlike the other parties, what the policies are for my party are what the tin says - what we offer is what you'll get. |
| "That's in striking contrast to what the other parties are hatching up." | "That's in striking contrast to what the other parties are hatching up." |