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Nicola Sturgeon 'not intent on class war' Nicola Sturgeon 'not intent on class war'
(about 9 hours later)
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is to insist she is not intent on class war, despite backing land reform and higher taxes on the rich.Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is to insist she is not intent on class war, despite backing land reform and higher taxes on the rich.
Addressing company executives, she is expected to say she wants Scotland to be "an attractive, rewarding and value-creating place" to do business.Addressing company executives, she is expected to say she wants Scotland to be "an attractive, rewarding and value-creating place" to do business.
Ms Sturgeon will ask her audience in Glasgow for ideas to help "grow the economy faster and more sustainably".Ms Sturgeon will ask her audience in Glasgow for ideas to help "grow the economy faster and more sustainably".
It will be her first speech outside Holyrood since taking office.It will be her first speech outside Holyrood since taking office.
'Equality and cohesion'
The first minister will set out her economic philosophy for government, arguing that tackling inequality is not just compatible with growth but is in fact important for a healthy economy.The first minister will set out her economic philosophy for government, arguing that tackling inequality is not just compatible with growth but is in fact important for a healthy economy.
"We believe - in common with many economists across the world - that equality and cohesion are good for growth as well as good for individuals," she will say. Ahead of her address, Ms Sturgeon told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We need a strong growing economy if we are to have a fairer society that I think we all want.
Calling for a dialogue with business, she will ask her audience to be part of a "shared national endeavour" to create greater prosperity and a fairer society. "If we have a fairer society that is also good for the economy. So I am calling on the business community to work in partnership with the government to help us build that better county."
The speech, to be delivered on Monday morning at the Glasgow offices of Scottish and Southern Energy, one of Scotland's biggest firms, is designed to convince businesspeople that Ms Sturgeon's lack of experience in the boardroom is irrelevant.The speech, to be delivered on Monday morning at the Glasgow offices of Scottish and Southern Energy, one of Scotland's biggest firms, is designed to convince businesspeople that Ms Sturgeon's lack of experience in the boardroom is irrelevant.
'Charm offensive''Charm offensive'
The Scottish National Party leader was a solicitor at the Drumchapel Law Centre in Glasgow before being elected as a member of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. Her predecessor Alex Salmond, in contrast, worked as an economist for the Royal Bank of Scotland.The Scottish National Party leader was a solicitor at the Drumchapel Law Centre in Glasgow before being elected as a member of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. Her predecessor Alex Salmond, in contrast, worked as an economist for the Royal Bank of Scotland.
As part of her charm offensive, Ms Sturgeon has given an interview to the Financial Times in which she insisted she would be a "very strong ally" for Scotland's companies.As part of her charm offensive, Ms Sturgeon has given an interview to the Financial Times in which she insisted she would be a "very strong ally" for Scotland's companies.
"I want them to know that they have got nothing to fear from me," she told the newspaper, insisting that her social democratic plans for "greater equality" depended on a strong economy and a "vibrant business base earning the wealth that makes that possible". In the piece she said: "I want them to know that they have got nothing to fear from me," she told the newspaper, insisting that her social democratic plans for "greater equality" depended on a strong economy and a "vibrant business base earning the wealth that makes that possible."
The FT reports that the first minister will use her speech to announce that the Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz will continue to serve on the Scottish Government's Council of Economic Advisors. The FT reported that the first minister would use her speech to announce that the Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz will continue to serve on the Scottish Government's Council of Economic Advisors.
The body, which was set up in 2007, has reportedly been tasked with examining the link between inequality and economic growth.The body, which was set up in 2007, has reportedly been tasked with examining the link between inequality and economic growth.
It is another indication of a left-leaning agenda being pursued by Ms Sturgeon as she tries to broaden the SNP's appeal beyond its traditional rural heartlands, with the aim of challenging the Labour Party at the general election in May.It is another indication of a left-leaning agenda being pursued by Ms Sturgeon as she tries to broaden the SNP's appeal beyond its traditional rural heartlands, with the aim of challenging the Labour Party at the general election in May.
Last week she told the Scottish Parliament that, were she making the decision now, she would raise the top rate of income tax, which applies to people earning more than £150,000 a year, from 45% to 50%.Last week she told the Scottish Parliament that, were she making the decision now, she would raise the top rate of income tax, which applies to people earning more than £150,000 a year, from 45% to 50%.
The headline measure in her first annual programme for government - reform of land ownership - also raised corporate eyebrows with plans to force shooting estates to pay business rates and a warning that landowners who posed a barrier to sustainable development could expect unspecified government intervention.The headline measure in her first annual programme for government - reform of land ownership - also raised corporate eyebrows with plans to force shooting estates to pay business rates and a warning that landowners who posed a barrier to sustainable development could expect unspecified government intervention.
In her FT interview Ms Sturgeon seeks to ease landowners' concerns, insisting that the state would only intervene in "very particular" cases.In her FT interview Ms Sturgeon seeks to ease landowners' concerns, insisting that the state would only intervene in "very particular" cases.
"This is not some kind of class warfare," she said."This is not some kind of class warfare," she said.