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| Nicola Sturgeon attacks Westminster spending cuts | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has used a speech in Edinburgh to attack the "scale and speed" of spending cuts planned by the UK government. | |
| Speaking ahead of the Queen's Speech, the SNP leader also reiterated her party's support for Britain's continued membership of the European Union. | |
| She made the speech on a visit to Heart of Midlothian FC's Tynecastle Stadium. | |
| She was joined by the Scottish Finance Secretary John Swinney. | |
| The pair also unveiled the Scottish Business Pledge which aims to promote "fairness, equality and sustainable economic growth". | |
| 'Slow recovery' | 'Slow recovery' |
| An "alternative to austerity" was the centrepiece of the Scottish National Party's successful general election campaign. | An "alternative to austerity" was the centrepiece of the Scottish National Party's successful general election campaign. |
| In her first major economic speech since the election, Nicola Sturgeon argued that the prime minister cannot ignore the democratic will of the Scottish people. | |
| She said: "The result of the general election provides an opportunity and a challenge for the Scottish government. There is clearly an opportunity to ensure that Scotland's priorities are better understood. | |
| "But there is also a significant challenge in working with a majority government at Westminster - many of whose policies we disagree with. | |
| "We will continue to oppose spending reductions of the scale and speed that the UK government has suggested. These would slow economic recovery and make deficit reduction more difficult - something shown by the impact of the cuts imposed after 2010." | "We will continue to oppose spending reductions of the scale and speed that the UK government has suggested. These would slow economic recovery and make deficit reduction more difficult - something shown by the impact of the cuts imposed after 2010." |
| Ms Sturgeon said David Cameron must either change his approach or find ways to lessen the impact on Scotland. | |
| She also said that business, employees and government need to work more closely together to build a prosperous and cohesive society. | |
| The SNP leader again insist that the UK should only withdraw from the EU if there is a majority in favour of exit in all four nations of the UK. | |
| She said: "Since a referendum is now inevitable we will work to protect Scotland's interests in that referendum. We'll propose a double majority meaning that exit from the European Union would only be possible if all four nations agreed to that, something that would ensure that Scotland couldn't be forced out of the European Union against our will. | |
| "And during the run up to the referendum, the Scottish government will of course make a strong and positive case for staying in the EU." | "And during the run up to the referendum, the Scottish government will of course make a strong and positive case for staying in the EU." |
| The first minister will also called on businesses to commit to paying the living wage and promoting fair practices as she launched a new industry code. | |
| Companies wanting to sign up to the Scottish Business Pledge must agree to paying the Living Wage to all direct employees over 18. | Companies wanting to sign up to the Scottish Business Pledge must agree to paying the Living Wage to all direct employees over 18. |
| They must also be delivering on at least two of the pledge's nine components, as well as committing to achieving the rest "over time". | They must also be delivering on at least two of the pledge's nine components, as well as committing to achieving the rest "over time". |
| 'Perfect match' | 'Perfect match' |
| Speaking on BBC Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme, Finance Secretary Mr Swinney, said: "This has been described by the first minister as a shared national endeavour and I think that's exactly how we should look at this - government and business coming together. | |
| "My priority is to get people into employment and then to make sure that as much of that employment as possible is high quality, productive employment, making a high-value contribution to our society." | |
| Hearts, who recently won promotion back to the Scottish Premiership, are one of the first companies to sign up to the pledge. | Hearts, who recently won promotion back to the Scottish Premiership, are one of the first companies to sign up to the pledge. |
| The club's chief executive Ann Budge said: "By introducing the Living Wage across our business, by investing in youth education and staff education, by engaging fully with the community and by working closely with the Foundation of Hearts to introduce fan ownership, we are the perfect match for this initiative." | The club's chief executive Ann Budge said: "By introducing the Living Wage across our business, by investing in youth education and staff education, by engaging fully with the community and by working closely with the Foundation of Hearts to introduce fan ownership, we are the perfect match for this initiative." |
| The number of people out of work in Scotland rose by 19,000 in the first quarter of the year, while the Bank of Scotland's Labour Monitor stood at 59.1 in April, down from 60.6 in March. | The number of people out of work in Scotland rose by 19,000 in the first quarter of the year, while the Bank of Scotland's Labour Monitor stood at 59.1 in April, down from 60.6 in March. |
| This was the lowest reading in 22 months and below the index for the UK as a whole, but the report also showed an improving labour market picture for the fifty-fourth consecutive month. | This was the lowest reading in 22 months and below the index for the UK as a whole, but the report also showed an improving labour market picture for the fifty-fourth consecutive month. |
| The Bank of Scotland has also said the economic slowdown seen in the first quarter of this year is gradually being reversed. | The Bank of Scotland has also said the economic slowdown seen in the first quarter of this year is gradually being reversed. |
| Opposition politicians have accused the Scottish government of focussing on the constitution rather than better utilising the powers it already has to help grow the economy at a faster rate. | Opposition politicians have accused the Scottish government of focussing on the constitution rather than better utilising the powers it already has to help grow the economy at a faster rate. |
| The Federation of Small Businesses has also previously said that the "lukewarm" employment figures "mask a story of uneven recovery" across the country. | The Federation of Small Businesses has also previously said that the "lukewarm" employment figures "mask a story of uneven recovery" across the country. |