00:00People often say that the eradication of child poverty is an impossibility.
00:05That is true if Scotland remains the same as it is today, but my ambition, and
00:11looking around this room I think it's also our ambition, is for a very
00:15different Scotland. I'd like you to imagine for a moment a Scotland where no
00:22child lives in poverty. What does this Scotland look like? It's a wealthier
00:27Scotland. We've made the most of our vast renewable energy wealth to bring new
00:32jobs and opportunities across our land. There are clear and direct benefits for
00:37the people of Scotland. A restored manufacturing base, a green
00:41reindustrialisation of our land, lower household fuel bills, lower energy costs
00:47for industry, fueling inward investment and business growth, more jobs, better
00:51jobs, higher wages, ongoing opportunities to learn and develop new skills, growing
00:57Scottish-owned companies, a spirit of entrepreneurialism, ambition and hope, no
01:03ceiling on what any child can achieve. But wealth on its own is not enough. It's
01:11a fairer Scotland too, with our nation's wealth shared more equally amongst us.
01:17The gap between the highest and the lowest incomes reduced, less wealth
01:22inequality, so all of our citizens have assets, pensions, savings and if they
01:27wish, a home that they own. The wealth of all increasing, but the wealth of those
01:33with least growing the fastest. Imagine it. If we want it, if we prioritise it, if
01:39we make it our goal, then together we can make real progress towards achieving it.
01:44I believe with every fibre of my being that the more decisions we take here in
01:50Scotland, the better for Scotland because no one cares more about this country
01:54than the people who live here. We've got what it takes to both imagine and to
02:00create a better Scotland. Of that I have no doubt because there is nothing wrong
02:05with Scotland that can't be fixed with what is right with Scotland.
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