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| Salmond delivers Scottish vision | Salmond delivers Scottish vision |
| (16 minutes later) | |
| Scotland's new first minister, Alex Salmond, has put the economy at the heart of his plans for government. | Scotland's new first minister, Alex Salmond, has put the economy at the heart of his plans for government. |
| In a statement to Holyrood, the SNP leader said growth over the past decade had been disappointing. | In a statement to Holyrood, the SNP leader said growth over the past decade had been disappointing. |
| Mr Salmond, head of Scotland's first minority government, also laid out Liberal Democrat, Tory and Labour policies he may take forward. | Mr Salmond, head of Scotland's first minority government, also laid out Liberal Democrat, Tory and Labour policies he may take forward. |
| But former first minister Jack McConnell said the policies laid out were lacking in detail. | But former first minister Jack McConnell said the policies laid out were lacking in detail. |
| Mr Salmond told MSPs it was now time to get down to business, adding: "Scotland's new politics starts now." | Mr Salmond told MSPs it was now time to get down to business, adding: "Scotland's new politics starts now." |
| Scots Tory leader Annabel Goldie called on Mr Salmond to adopt the "root and branch" reform of development agency Scottish Enterprise, while Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen voiced concern about the Nationalists' environmental credentials. | Scots Tory leader Annabel Goldie called on Mr Salmond to adopt the "root and branch" reform of development agency Scottish Enterprise, while Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen voiced concern about the Nationalists' environmental credentials. |
| In his speech, the first minister said he wanted to respect the diversity of opinion across the parliament chamber, but warned that he did not favour "false consensus". | In his speech, the first minister said he wanted to respect the diversity of opinion across the parliament chamber, but warned that he did not favour "false consensus". |
| He said the "overarching priority" of his administration was faster and more sustainable economic growth. | He said the "overarching priority" of his administration was faster and more sustainable economic growth. |
| The first minister promised two weeks ago a wind of change in Scottish politics. At the moment, all we are getting is a lot of hot air Jack McConnell MSPScottish Labour leader The politics of give and take Move to end bridge tolls class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/6685415.stm">Statement at a glance | |
| He said he would work to remove or cut business rates from small businesses, appoint a council of economic advisers to provide independent advice and move to scrap tolls on the Forth and Tay road bridges. | He said he would work to remove or cut business rates from small businesses, appoint a council of economic advisers to provide independent advice and move to scrap tolls on the Forth and Tay road bridges. |
| He set out plans to bring forward legislation setting "ambitious targets" to cut greenhouse gas emissions, as well as a drive to boost renewable energy. | He set out plans to bring forward legislation setting "ambitious targets" to cut greenhouse gas emissions, as well as a drive to boost renewable energy. |
| Mr Salmond said: "I don't say today that Scotland can be instantly transformed into an economic powerhouse, but I do say that if we are to look objectively around us, we can learn many lessons about how to make Scotland successful. | Mr Salmond said: "I don't say today that Scotland can be instantly transformed into an economic powerhouse, but I do say that if we are to look objectively around us, we can learn many lessons about how to make Scotland successful. |
| "Economic regeneration may not be achieved in the lifetime of this parliament - in truth the step change required may take a generation before Scotland has tackled some of our economic problems. | "Economic regeneration may not be achieved in the lifetime of this parliament - in truth the step change required may take a generation before Scotland has tackled some of our economic problems. |
| "But the job of this government, and this parliament, is to make our long-term economic underperformance not a matter of political point scoring but rather a legitimate area for mature debate." | "But the job of this government, and this parliament, is to make our long-term economic underperformance not a matter of political point scoring but rather a legitimate area for mature debate." |
| Independence question | Independence question |
| Mr Salmond praised Lib Dem policies on promoting young people, Conservative calls for more police and Labour proposals to raise the smoking age. | Mr Salmond praised Lib Dem policies on promoting young people, Conservative calls for more police and Labour proposals to raise the smoking age. |
| The first minister said he would also seek to strengthen Scotland's voice in Europe, adding that the government would be "the most outward-looking" Scotland had ever had. | The first minister said he would also seek to strengthen Scotland's voice in Europe, adding that the government would be "the most outward-looking" Scotland had ever had. |
| Mr Salmond also acknowledged that the appetite for Scottish independence was not universally reflected in the Holyrood chamber. | Mr Salmond also acknowledged that the appetite for Scottish independence was not universally reflected in the Holyrood chamber. |
| "This government will explore how best to reflect that reality and engage in a national conversation, not just with this parliament but with the people of Scotland," he said. | "This government will explore how best to reflect that reality and engage in a national conversation, not just with this parliament but with the people of Scotland," he said. |
| However, responding to the speech, Scottish Labour leader Mr McConnell said: "We are disappointed that the statement contains only recycled announcements, no details of timescale or costing." | However, responding to the speech, Scottish Labour leader Mr McConnell said: "We are disappointed that the statement contains only recycled announcements, no details of timescale or costing." |
| The statement, Mr McConnell added, contained no mention of education or skills. | The statement, Mr McConnell added, contained no mention of education or skills. |
| "The first minister promised two weeks ago a wind of change in Scottish politics. At the moment, all we are getting is a lot of hot air," he said. | "The first minister promised two weeks ago a wind of change in Scottish politics. At the moment, all we are getting is a lot of hot air," he said. |
| 'Lukewarm' reaction | 'Lukewarm' reaction |
| Miss Goldie also highlighted previous claims that the SNP would get the economy "moving" by working to reduce business rates for small firms. | Miss Goldie also highlighted previous claims that the SNP would get the economy "moving" by working to reduce business rates for small firms. |
| She asked: "The only question is when - can he confirm that will be achieved by next April?" | She asked: "The only question is when - can he confirm that will be achieved by next April?" |
| The SNP policy of scrapping council tax would be "years away" even if passed by parliament, added Miss Goldie, who called for an immediate "pensioners discount" to halve their bills. | The SNP policy of scrapping council tax would be "years away" even if passed by parliament, added Miss Goldie, who called for an immediate "pensioners discount" to halve their bills. |
| On renewables, Mr Stephen said the industry could provide thousands of new jobs and billions of pounds of new investment. | On renewables, Mr Stephen said the industry could provide thousands of new jobs and billions of pounds of new investment. |
| "This can be Scotland's new oil and gas industry of the future and we can export our technology worldwide, but that won't happen if the new executive puts a block on it." | "This can be Scotland's new oil and gas industry of the future and we can export our technology worldwide, but that won't happen if the new executive puts a block on it." |
| Mr Stephen said the renewables sector had to deal with an SNP administration "at best lukewarm" on new wind farm developments. | Mr Stephen said the renewables sector had to deal with an SNP administration "at best lukewarm" on new wind farm developments. |