Scotland celebrates National Day

 

Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond called on Scots to think and talk about the future of their nation as the country marks St Andrew's day.

Urging Scots to put our shared interests first Scotland's First Minister said:
“Today is St. Andrew’s Day. A good day to think about the hopes and aspirations of our country.

"Scotland is infinitely more important than any First Minister, MSP or political party. Our shared interest is the Scottish national interest.

"Now is the time for us all to get to our feet and say it is our national purpose to make a better Scotland. A land of greater fairness, greater prosperity, greater opportunity.

"However, that national purpose requires that we need the powers of a nation.

"In the eleven years since devolution our parliament has delivered a lot. But it has not delivered the profound change people want.
“There is a better way.” 
 
"Scots are crying out for a better society. Not a bit better, not a wee change, not some tinkering at the edges, but a better land.


"To make real change happen, we need independence.

"Independence is the profound right of everyone, from Leith Walk to Sauchiehall Street, from Dumfries to the Isles, to enjoy the same equality of opportunity, and to live in fairer communities.

"What I mean by independence is creating and protecting jobs.

"For me independence is about economic prosperity and social justice, work for the workless, homes for the homeless.

"Independence is not an end in itself. It is the means by which we can create a better Scotland for us all. And a referendum on Scotland’s future is the means by which we can achieve the powers we need.

“I’m a Scot first, politician second.” 
 
"All my life I have fought for fairness for this country.

"I govern not for the SNP, but for Scotland. The welfare of the nation, of its five million people, is what guides my actions.

"We all want this land to be better. And I have a plan to deliver it. Give our parliament the economic and financial levers and we can have the land you want. Give us the tools and we can do the job for Scotland, build the community that knows itself, and take pride in a society which cares enough to look after the frail, the sick and vulnerable.

"It has taken a Westminster public spending crisis to make the choice stark between doing something to protect our society, as we advocate, and doing nothing, which is for others.
"I urge the nation to come together, united, over the merit of action. At the same time, please tell me what you think by visiting bepartofbetter.net

"In the next election I won’t merely be standing for the Scottish Parliament to be re-elected as your First Minister. I’ll be standing in the belief that together we can make a better Scotland.
"I hope you’ll join me in that belief.”