This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7062401.stm
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 5 | Version 6 |
---|---|
Salmond speaks of 'solid record' | Salmond speaks of 'solid record' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has opened his party's annual conference by claiming a "solid record" of achievement in 160 days of power. | Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has opened his party's annual conference by claiming a "solid record" of achievement in 160 days of power. |
The SNP leader used his welcome speech to announce a £100m investment in Scotland's colleges and universities. | The SNP leader used his welcome speech to announce a £100m investment in Scotland's colleges and universities. |
The conference, in Aviemore, is the first since the SNP won the Scottish election in May. | The conference, in Aviemore, is the first since the SNP won the Scottish election in May. |
Mr Salmond warned delegates that the Labour Westminster government would "make life difficult" for Scotland. | Mr Salmond warned delegates that the Labour Westminster government would "make life difficult" for Scotland. |
Despite the jubilant atmosphere at the three-day conference, party bosses are keen to focus on serious policy announcements from the minority government's cabinet secretaries. | Despite the jubilant atmosphere at the three-day conference, party bosses are keen to focus on serious policy announcements from the minority government's cabinet secretaries. |
CONFERENCE AGENDA - DAY ONE 1000 - Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon arrive1030 - Conference opens1045 - Resolution on housing1130 - Address by Finance Secretary John Swinney1150 - Resolutions on planning gain supplement, compulsory competitive tendering, cities growth fund and social enterprise.1400 - Plaid Cymru fraternal address1410 - Topical and emergency resolutions1445 - Resolutions on the Europe national forum, nuclear weapons in Scotland and Burma.1540 - Ministerial address No fear for SNP leader class="" href="/1/hi/scotland/7064241.stm">£100m boost for universities | |
Mr Salmond said more people were identifying with the Scottish national party, adding: "The Scottish Government in the last 160 days or so, has moved forward very quickly on the programme. | Mr Salmond said more people were identifying with the Scottish national party, adding: "The Scottish Government in the last 160 days or so, has moved forward very quickly on the programme. |
"The ministerial team, our members of the Scottish Parliament, our representatives in local government, our delegation at Westminster. | "The ministerial team, our members of the Scottish Parliament, our representatives in local government, our delegation at Westminster. |
"These people are working hard on Scotland's behalf. They're living up to the expectations, not just of Scotland's party but Scotland as a whole." | "These people are working hard on Scotland's behalf. They're living up to the expectations, not just of Scotland's party but Scotland as a whole." |
The first minister outlined what his administration had achieved so far, including; | The first minister outlined what his administration had achieved so far, including; |
|
|
Mr Salmond said: "This is a government, this is an administration and this is a conference which will be setting its eye to the future, and I can tell you, that pace will start very strongly." | Mr Salmond said: "This is a government, this is an administration and this is a conference which will be setting its eye to the future, and I can tell you, that pace will start very strongly." |
Turning to his political rivals, he quipped: "Labour lost their first election for 50 years in May. As you can probably detect, they don't like it very much." | Turning to his political rivals, he quipped: "Labour lost their first election for 50 years in May. As you can probably detect, they don't like it very much." |
"We must expect Westminster to make life difficult for Scotland,. | "We must expect Westminster to make life difficult for Scotland,. |
"I don't think they're sitting round the Cabinet table and cheering us on. | "I don't think they're sitting round the Cabinet table and cheering us on. |
"I don't detect any great level of enthusiasm from Gordon Brown, from Des Browne and still less from Douglas Alexander over the last few days about the progress that Scotland's making." | "I don't detect any great level of enthusiasm from Gordon Brown, from Des Browne and still less from Douglas Alexander over the last few days about the progress that Scotland's making." |
Finance Secretary John Swinney also told the conference that the UK Government was making the case for the SNP's top goal of Scottish independence by handing the nation the "tightest financial settlement" in years. | Finance Secretary John Swinney also told the conference that the UK Government was making the case for the SNP's top goal of Scottish independence by handing the nation the "tightest financial settlement" in years. |
Public services | Public services |
He said the real terms increase in next year's Scottish budget was 0.5%, compared to 11% in recent years, while claiming that contrasted with rising oil revenues going into the Treasury. | He said the real terms increase in next year's Scottish budget was 0.5%, compared to 11% in recent years, while claiming that contrasted with rising oil revenues going into the Treasury. |
"The London way means taxes on small businesses go up and a squeeze on Scotland's public services takes an effect," he said. | "The London way means taxes on small businesses go up and a squeeze on Scotland's public services takes an effect," he said. |
"At the same time our black gold is filling the chancellor's self-inflicted black hole." | "At the same time our black gold is filling the chancellor's self-inflicted black hole." |
The finance secretary also told delegates he was working on a new deal with councils to freeze council tax levels ahead of introducing the SNP's plan to replace council tax with an income-based alternative - a move which may struggle to gain parliamentary approval. | The finance secretary also told delegates he was working on a new deal with councils to freeze council tax levels ahead of introducing the SNP's plan to replace council tax with an income-based alternative - a move which may struggle to gain parliamentary approval. |