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Emotional Nicola Sturgeon pledges children in care review Emotional Nicola Sturgeon pledges children in care review
(about 1 hour later)
An emotional Nicola Sturgeon has told her party's conference that she is to undertake a "root and branch review" of Scotland's children in care system.An emotional Nicola Sturgeon has told her party's conference that she is to undertake a "root and branch review" of Scotland's children in care system.
In addition she pledged more choice to parents over pre-school childcare.In addition she pledged more choice to parents over pre-school childcare.
The SNP leader's keynote speech also focused on Europe and what she termed Scotland's "home-rule" journey.The SNP leader's keynote speech also focused on Europe and what she termed Scotland's "home-rule" journey.
Ms Sturgeon said that those in the Tory Party, "intent on a hard Brexit", had caused "insecurity and uncertainty".Ms Sturgeon said that those in the Tory Party, "intent on a hard Brexit", had caused "insecurity and uncertainty".
During Ms Sturgeon's address to the 3,000 delegates, she set out a four-point plan to boost trade and exports. This will include:During Ms Sturgeon's address to the 3,000 delegates, she set out a four-point plan to boost trade and exports. This will include:
She told members: "Let me be crystal clear about this - Scotland cannot trust the likes of Boris Johnson and Liam Fox to represent us.She told members: "Let me be crystal clear about this - Scotland cannot trust the likes of Boris Johnson and Liam Fox to represent us.
"They are retreating to the fringes of Europe, we intend to stay at its very heart where Scotland belongs."They are retreating to the fringes of Europe, we intend to stay at its very heart where Scotland belongs.
"We are in a completely new era. A new political era and a new battle of ideas."We are in a completely new era. A new political era and a new battle of ideas.
"A new era for our parliament, with new powers and responsibilities, and a new era for our relationship with Europe and the wider world.""A new era for our parliament, with new powers and responsibilities, and a new era for our relationship with Europe and the wider world."
Scottish independence is a theme of all SNP leader speeches, but Ms Sturgeon was keen to emphasise a different "i" word.
She said: "If you remember just one word from my speech today, I want it to be this one.
"It begins with an 'i'. No, not that one. Not yet. The word I want you to remember is this - inclusion. Inclusion is the guiding principle for everything we do.
"It encapsulates what we stand for as a party and it describes the kind of country we want Scotland to be. An inclusive country."
'Their stories have moved me deeply''Their stories have moved me deeply'
But it was on domestic policies where she received some of the biggest cheers. It was on domestic policies where she received some of the biggest cheers.
She talked of the ambition her government had to improve the lives and education of the country's children.She talked of the ambition her government had to improve the lives and education of the country's children.
And in an emotional address, Ms Sturgeon added: "Recently, I've been spending some time with young people who have grown up in care.And in an emotional address, Ms Sturgeon added: "Recently, I've been spending some time with young people who have grown up in care.
"Some of them are here today. Their stories have moved me deeply."Some of them are here today. Their stories have moved me deeply.
"These young people have challenged me to accept Who Cares? Scotland's pledge to listen to 1,000 care experienced young people over the next two years."These young people have challenged me to accept Who Cares? Scotland's pledge to listen to 1,000 care experienced young people over the next two years.
"And then to use what they tell me to help make their lives better. I've accepted that challenge.""And then to use what they tell me to help make their lives better. I've accepted that challenge."
Analysis: By BBC Scotland political reporter Philip Sim What did the 'i' stand for?
It was, as Nicola Sturgeon promised, a speech characterised by a word starting with the letter i. Analysis by BBC Scotland political editor Brian Taylor
"No, not that one!" she quickly noted, as 3,000 delegates drew breath to holler "independence!" Nicola Sturgeon advised delegates that the big theme of her speech was a word beginning with I.
Ms Sturgeon's word was "inclusion" - and it rather summed up the message the SNP have been hammering away at for the whole conference. No, not that one, she swiftly told the packed hall. The word she had in mind was "inclusion". Ms Sturgeon then deftly contrived to deploy that word in a range of ways.
They have sought at every opportunity to illustrate the great contrast between themselves and the Tories. They cast the "inclusive", "socially just" SNP against the "xenophobic", "hard-right" Conservatives. Firstly, she sought to contrast the Scottish government and Scotland with what she characterised as the emerging xenophobia of the UK Conservative administration. It is a dichotomy which sundry speakers - including the FM in her Thursday address - have sought to project. It is, needless to say, challenged by said UKG.
This is a handy tactic both domestically and in any future constitutional debate, and indeed thoughts of that other i-word "independence" were never far from the surface throughout the speech and indeed the conference as a whole. As always, they drew the loudest cheers when voiced. Secondly, she turned it into a policy function. Her voice close to breaking, her countenance close to tears, she referred to audience members in the front row who had been through the care system.
But I would suggest that a third "i" came to the fore during Ms Sturgeon's speech - "international". Too often, she said, the system was about stopping things - while she acknowledged the need for controls and safeguards. She described the problems which sometimes confront those in care while promising a full scale review of the system to enhance social inclusion.
Yes, there was focus aplenty on "the day job", with the NHS and education boxes ticked. Then, more subtly, she deployed her I word with regard to Brexit and the prospect of indyref2. Those who supported independence, she said, must understand and respect those who took a different view.
There was real emotion in parts of this - in particular when Ms Sturgeon spoke about the life chances of children who grow up in care, a group of whom held up heart-shaped cards in front of a first minister with a genuine tear in her eye. Read more from Brian
But the SNP leader often seemed to be speaking from a global perspective. Alongside talk of Glasgow and London, there was mention of Berlin, of Syria, of Norway. She pictures an outward-looking, globalist Scotland, opposed to an inward-looking, insular UK; two visions which seem far from compatible.
Ms Sturgeon has been very careful not to commit herself too far down the road of a second independence referendum. But her rhetoric of choice, hammering away at that Holyrood/Westminster contrast, at times sounds like she's already campaigning in one.