00:00 [Music]
00:07 I am happy to confirm today that at the close of nominations at midday, I received one valid nomination.
00:18 And I'm delighted to confirm that our new party leader is John Swinney.
00:23 [Applause]
00:27 Friends, first of all, can I thank Lorna and the party staff for the professional way this leadership process has been run at such short notice,
00:37 enabling the Scottish National Party to get back on the front foot so quickly.
00:43 A year ago, well, even a week ago, I didn't think that my future would involve standing here, accepting the leadership of the Scottish National Party.
00:53 Things have turned out differently, and before I say any more about my leadership, I want to pay tribute to Hamza Yousaf.
01:02 He's conducted himself throughout the last year with grace and with dignity in some acutely difficult circumstances.
01:11 In particular, his moral leadership on the issue of Gaza has been a light in these dark times.
01:19 Our party must continue, and will continue, to be a light.
01:24 We must continue to illuminate hope, fight for international justice, and be willing to stand up for what we believe to be correct.
01:34 That is what Hamza Yousaf did.
01:37 I know that Hamza will continue to make a substantial contribution to the public life of Scotland,
01:43 and I want to thank him for all that he has done as our party leader and as our First Minister.
01:50 [Applause]
01:59 Today is the beginning of a new chapter in our party's history.
02:04 A chapter that will be about coming together, uniting, and dedicating ourselves to the service of Scotland.
02:14 I want to express my heartfelt thanks to the many party members, the many elected members at Westminster and at Holyrood,
02:21 and in our council chambers around the country for their encouragement for me to stand for the party leadership.
02:27 My decision to stand for the leadership is not born out of long-held ambition,
02:34 but rather a profound sense of duty to my party and to my country.
02:41 Now I know there's some controversy that I'm the only candidate to stand for the leadership.
02:46 Perhaps not surprisingly, I take a very different view to that.
02:51 For me, the fact that I am the only candidate demonstrates that the Scottish National Party is coming back together again now.
03:02 [Applause]
03:11 I promised that I would create an inclusive and unified team, and I will do that.
03:17 I promised I would enable open and respectful dialogue in the SNP, and I will do that.
03:24 I promised to make sure that the SNP looks outward to the people of our country, and not inward amongst ourselves, and I will do that.
03:35 I've had the privilege of contributing a significant amount to the SNP's story.
03:41 In that time, I've seen the lows and the highs of our modern political history as a party.
03:48 And over those highs and lows, one thing has been clear to me time after time.
03:54 Scotland wins when the SNP wins.
03:58 Yes, we faced a rough time recently as a party, but remember what's been happening during that rough time.
04:05 The Scottish Child Payment is lifting 100,000 children out of poverty.
04:11 Free university tuition opens a better future to record numbers of young people from poorer backgrounds.
04:18 And the massive expansion of childcare is giving children from every background a better start in life.
04:27 So, however tough it has recently been for the SNP, never ever forget that at the same time,
04:35 SNP policies and actions are transforming lives here and now in our country.
04:42 [Applause]
04:50 As I begin my leadership of the party I love, I want to speak not just to everyone here at this SNP gathering.
04:58 I want to speak to each and every person in this country.
05:02 To those who know me, and those who don't.
05:05 To those who support the SNP, and those who never have.
05:09 And to those who support independence, and those that we are yet to convince.
05:15 I want to set out the vision I have of our nation's future.
05:19 I said when I launched my candidacy for leadership that I wanted to create a modern, diverse, dynamic Scotland.
05:27 Today, I'm standing in a building that speaks of that future.
05:32 It's the Advanced Research Centre of the University of Glasgow.
05:36 Here in the heart of one of our oldest universities in Europe, research into the newest leading edge technologies
05:44 push back the boundaries of what is possible.
05:47 Experience and innovation combined.
05:50 History and modernity together forging a new future.
05:53 That is the perfect vision for Scotland.
05:56 A country with a depth of history can blend the old and the new and forge it together into the best future for herself.
06:05 A country where people have good jobs, the climate is protected, the vulnerable are lifted up,
06:11 and opportunity is available for all.
06:14 That is the chapter, the new chapter that I offer.
06:18 One built on experience.
06:21 On skills honed over decades.
06:24 Every moment of my journey devoted to building the new Scotland I believe is possible.
06:31 Later this week, Scotland will choose a new First Minister.
06:35 In putting my name forward, it's important that I set out what kind of First Minister I will be.
06:41 I spoke last week about unifying our party and about what we can do for Scotland together.
06:47 I believe the same is true of our Parliament.
06:51 In 2021, the share of the vote commanded by Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats all fell.
06:58 The SNP recorded our best ever share of the constituency vote.
07:02 In fact, we won more votes and a higher share of the votes in the constituency ballot than any party in the 25 year history of devolution.
07:11 That is our mandate, but it does not give us a monopoly on good ideas.
07:17 It means that we have the right, in fact we have the duty, to form the government.
07:22 But it does not mean that we can stop listening to people and voices outside our party.
07:28 The polarisation of politics does not serve our country well.
07:33 Too often, too many people are too busy fighting to win battles when we should be seeking solutions to problems.
07:41 That is what I pledge I will seek to do.
07:45 I will reach out to everyone willing to join with us in good faith and seek compromises that serve our nation well.
07:52 That does not mean that debate will end, far from it, but it does mean that should I be elected,
07:58 I will first seek common ground to join together in coalitions of the willing and solve the problems that our country faces.
08:07 We need to stop shouting at each other and talk to each other.
08:12 More than that, actually, we need to listen.
08:15 And as First Minister, I will do exactly that.
08:19 Friends, I believe recent events show that this approach works.
08:23 Last week, I met with Kate Forbes.
08:26 We came together and discussed the shared ambitions we have for our country and how best we can go forward.
08:33 I welcome Kate's support for my leadership.
08:36 And over the weekend, I reached out to my party colleague, Graeme McCormick.
08:41 He wanted to stand for elections so he could be heard.
08:45 So I listened and assured him that the views of party members up and down the country will be properly listened to.
08:52 The simple lesson is that dialogue can bring us to points of agreement and strength.
08:58 And that is my message today to every party in the Scottish Parliament.
09:02 Focus on solutions to problems and you will find no one more willing to listen than me.
09:08 Together, we can make a real difference to the lives of people in Scotland.
09:13 That's the job we have all been sent to Parliament to do.
09:17 Of course, I believe this country could do more if we had the powers of a normal, independent nation.
09:23 The powers of independence.
09:25 The cost of living crisis and the damaging impact of Brexit are two examples of Westminster decisions that are bad for Scotland.
09:34 They demonstrate why Scotland needs to have independence to make our own decisions and create our best future.
09:43 I will always seek, with respect and courtesy, to persuade people of the case for independence.
09:49 All I ask of those who oppose that vision is that they also act with the same courtesy and respect.
09:57 That means independence is not a reason for them to refuse to work with us to build the economy, to support jobs and to improve the health service.
10:08 If elected as First Minister, my focus will be the economy, jobs and the cost of living.
10:15 It will be the National Health Service, our schools and our public services.
10:19 It will be addressing the climate crisis.
10:22 So to everyone in every party, to every MSP, to every MP, in fact to everyone in our great country, I say this.
10:30 Join me.
10:32 Don't let our disagreements dominate.
10:35 Join me as we open a new chapter.
10:37 As we create a vibrant economy in every part of our country.
10:41 As we tackle the challenges faced by the NHS.
10:45 As we build on the strengths in our schools.
10:48 As we build more homes, take climate action, improve public transport and create jobs.
10:54 That's my job.
10:56 That's our job.
10:57 And I plan to get the job done.
10:59 Thank you very much.
11:01 [Applause]
11:13 [Music plays]
11:19 [MUSIC]
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