‘Firm intention’ for exam go-ahead
In response to a question from Shirley-Anne Summerville, Sturgeon says it is her “firm intention” that senior students at secondary schools will sit exams this year. Due to the pandemic, for the past two years, Highers and other formal qualifications have been unable to take place, with pupils instead given grades based on their teachers’ assessment of performance.
Given we’re still living through a global pandemic, contingencies are needed in education as in all other aspects of life right now. Our firm intention this year is that exams will go ahead…If education is further disrupted, because of developments in the pandemic, than additional support will be provided for those studying for exams. The second contingency is that if public health advice says it isn’t safe for young people to come together to sit exams in the traditional way, then we go back to a situation akin to the last two years where we would have teacher judgment coming to bear instead of exams.
Ross: Sturgeon failing Scottish businesses
At First Minister’s questions, Ross accuses Sturgeon of treating Scottish businesses like an afterthought after still failing to pass on Westminsters rescue cash that was supposed to have been in place before Christmas. The Scottish Government’s advice on covid restrictions over Christmas had led to a huge reduction in footfall over the festive period and consequently many businesses have had to borrow huge sums of money just to survive.
Not a single penny of funding we were promised has reached businesses. Can she give a precise time-scale on when this money will be paid a month after it was announced? First Minister, this has happened time and time again. The SNP are quick to demand more money from the Westminster government but very slow to get it out to the business that need it.
Extends covid passport rules
In an announcement to Parliament, Sturgeon says that whilst limits of 500 people at football matches would be lifted as of Monday 17th January and table service restrictions in eateries and one-metre social distancing requirements will be removed on Monday 24th January, there will also be an increased and more widespread use of the covid vaccine passport.
The new rules will require attendees to provide proof of having had two vaccine injections plus the booster jab in order to get into nightclubs and large events. Whereas, until now, event organisers were only required to check the passports of twenty percent of attendees, from 24th January that will be raised to fifty percent. Those who have not as yet had a booster jab can instead provide proof of a same day negative lateral flow test. Sturgeon also says she will look at “extending the scope of covid certification to other venues” which has been widely interpreted that she will even impose them on pubs and licensed premises.
Scotland Tonight: ‘I intend to do everything in my power’ to hold a referendum in 2023
0 CommentsIn an interview on Scotland Tonight, Sturgeon says she intends to hold a referendum before the end of 2023.
I intend to do everything that is within my power to enable that referendum to happen before the end of 2023, and we will set out exactly what that means in terms of the date of the introduction of legislation when we’ve taken the detailed decisions around that…What I think is much more exciting as we come out, I hope, of the pandemic, and certainly the acute phase of the pandemic, are the opportunities that come with Scotland being independent.
“I intend to do everything that’s within my power to enable that referendum to happen before the end of 2023”
Watch the First Minister’s full interview on #ScotNight at 10.40pm pic.twitter.com/B1XTZA7usF
— ScotlandTonight (@ScotlandTonight) January 10, 2022
Scotland Tonight: How do we learn to live with Covid?
Sturgeon is interviewed on Scotland Tonight, where she suggests the Scottish Government was planning for a long-term shift away from extensive curbs.
Sometimes when you hear people talk about learning to live with Covid, what seems to be suggested is that one morning we’ll wake up and not have to worry about it anymore, and not have to do anything to try to contain and control it. That’s not what I mean when I say ‘learning to live with it’. Instead, we will have to ask ourselves what adaptations to pre-pandemic life – face coverings, for example – might be required in the longer-term to enable us to live with it with far fewer protective measures.
I would say that, but for the protective measures we introduced before Christmas and but for the very responsible behaviour of the public, I think we would be in an even more challenging situation right now…Some of our projections pre-Christmas have not quite come to pass because we’ve managed to mitigate to some extent what the Omicron wave would otherwise have presented for us.
“How do we learn to live with covid? That’s [a question] the Scottish Government is thinking very carefully about”
In the First Minister’s first interview of the year, she talks about the current covid restrictions.
Watch the full interview at 10.40pm on #scotnight pic.twitter.com/80jIPDum1G
— ScotlandTonight (@ScotlandTonight) January 10, 2022
Leitch doubts effectiveness of Sturgeon lockdown
Leitch confirms that Sturgeon’s stringent lockdown measures, which have financially affected Scottish football clubs and nightclubs, have made no difference to the spread of Covid. Scottish football is losing £2 million per week in lost revenue whilst Scotland maintains a similar level of infection to England.
If you want to do the comparison, Northern Ireland’s number is much higher than ours. Wales is higher. England and Scotland is very similar. We were lower than them, now they’re catching up a little bit.
Despite this, he maintains it is correct to continue in a similar manner on the basis that the weekly figures are just a snapshot and that in the longer term, Scotland will begin to see the benefits.
Should we still be protecting the public from these case rates if they are just going to go anyway? I think ‘yes’ is the answer to that. I think the protections reduce the size of the wave and potentially also elongate the wave to allow more people to get vaccinated and spread the hospitalisations and intensive care cases out over a longer period.
Announces end to 10-day isolation period
Sturgeon announces that Covid isolation periods will be reduced from 10 days to seven, so long as people have a negative peak flow result to show for it. This is despite pouring scorn a week earlier on a journalist who had asked whether she would consider this very option.
Salmond: Sturgeon’s Cambo stance will ‘sink independence’
Salmond compares Sturgeon’s opposition to the Cambo oil field to Mrs Thatcher’s abandonment of coal mining communities, saying it will sink the case for independence and cost the SNP tens of thousands of votes.
The consequences could be far reaching, and not just for the SNP but for the whole independence movement….It would be akin to Margaret Thatcher, having closed the pits, then campaigning for votes in the old mining areas of Cowdenbeath and Kelty…For the leader of the independence campaign to casually cast aside that card represents a stunning step backwards.
He says Cambo should be licensed on condition it is a zero carbon development:
Without it, then it is not just farewell to tens of thousands of north-east of Scotland votes for the SNP. Much more seriously, it’s Mossmorran no more, Grangemouth no more, St Fergus no more – and independence no more.
Poll: Majority want Sturgeon to stay as First Minister
A Panelbase poll, commisioned by The Sunday Times, indicates that 52% of respondents would prefer if Sturgeon remained as First Minister for the rest of this parliament, while 34 per cent of the 2,038 voters surveyed between November 9 and 15 said they would like her to leave the position. The poll also indicates that a majority of Scots don’t know who they would back to be the next First Minister if Sturgeon steps down, with 64 per cent of voters have no view on who the next leader of the SNP should be. Pottential successors include Kate Forbes on 7% and John Swinney on 6%. Curtice:
While her ubiquity might reflect her effectiveness as a communicator, a strong leader is also one who enables their colleagues to shine, and gain the experience and authority needed to become a potential successor.
Sturgeon sends message of support to Godley
Sturgeon tweets her support to Godley.
Sending love and strength
Sending love and strength @JaneyGodley https://t.co/b5JZgtGJST
— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) November 19, 2021
Sturgeon responds to Ross question on prisoner early release
Following the sentencing of Jason Graham for the murder of Esther Brown, Ross asks Sturgeon about the Scottish Government’s approach to prisoner early release:
Jason Graham was released early. He wasn’t monitored properly. Yesterday he got 19 years – yes, a long sentence – but not nearly enough for such a horrific crime. This week the Scottish Government launched a consultation proposing that violent criminals could get out after just six or seven years. The document suggests long-term prisoners could be considered for release after a just a third of their sentence…First Minister, can you honestly say your government’s approach to justice is keeping the people of Scotland safe?
Sturgeon responds:
My thoughts and sympathies are with Esther Brown’s family and her friends. Absolutely nothing I or anyone else in this chamber can say will ease the pain that family is suffering…In terms of automatic early release, of course this is an issue of contention and has been for many years in this parliament. This government legislated back in 2016 to end the previous system of automatic release for prisoners and that could not be retrospective legislation but it was an important move to make.We will continue to ensure our justice system continues to protect people from criminals and ensures victims get the justice they deserve. But also a justice system that tries to ensure – and I’m not talking about this case when I make this point – the principles of rehabilitation and reducing reoffending are at its heart.
Sturgeon: Cambo oil field ‘should not get the green light’
In Holyrood, Lennon questions The First Minister on the Cambo oil field:
There is no rigorous climate change test that Cambo can possibly pass, so the First Minister must do more than ask the UK Government to simply reassess the proposed oil field. [The First Minister must] oppose Cambo in the strongest possible terms and provide the political leadership that has been lacking.
Sturgeon responds:
I don’t think we can go on extracting new oil and gas forever, that is why we have moved away from the policy of maximum economic recovery. And I don’t think we can go and continue to give the go-ahead to new oil fields. So I don’t think that Cambo should get the green light…I have set out a proposal for a climate assessment and I think the presumption would be that Cambo couldn’t and shouldn’t pass any rigorous climate assessment
However, The first Misiter said that final approval for the oil field was reserved to the UK Government.
Sturgeon on Godley comments: ‘These things happen’
Sturgeon comments on Godley’s offensive comments:
The tweets that were brought to my attention yesterday were completely unacceptable, completely beyond the pale. I would not in any way, shape or form seek to defend them.
When asked about the decision to scrap the videos:
These things happen. The important thing is that action was taken. The most important thing to me from the start of this pandemic has been the integrity of our public health message and that has involved difficult decisions from me over the past 18 months and that’s the priority we have attached to this particular incident…Janey has apologised – I think she has been pretty straightforward and dignified in her apology. She’s a comedian – as she said herself she thought it gave her licence to say things that she now accepts were completely out of order and unacceptable. When people make mistakes, the culture we live in, the climate we live in these days is pretty unforgiving. Therefore, I’m a great believer that when people make mistakes, and I apply this to myself as well, it’s really important to hold your hands up to it and apologise where that is required. But perhaps we should all recognise that none of us are infallible.
Hamilton clears Sturgeon of breaking the ministerial code
The independent enquiry led by Hamilton into whether Sturgeon deliberately misled the Scottish Parliament over what she knew or didn’t know about the Alex Salmond saga, clears her of any wrongdoing in a report. He acknowledges that while her recollection of some events was incorrect, this was due to a genuine error rather than because of any attempt to deceive.
I am of the opinion that the first minister did not breach the provisions of the ministerial code in respect of any of these matters.
On that basis he concludesd that she had not broken the ministerial code. Hamilton also looked at her failure to record specifics of meetings and conversations with Alex Salmond and while he disagreed with her that they were not Government business he acknowledged that keeping a record of those events might have prejudiced the proceedings.
Regarding the accusation that Sturgeon had attempted to influence the investigation itself over whether Salmond harassed staff, it was found that she had not done so. Salmond had also raised that complaint that Sturgeon had broken the law by failing to listen to the advice of her legal advisers that there was not a sufficiently strong case against him to justify proceeding. Hamilton concludesed that failing to follow the advice of your advisers does not mean that you have broken the law itself.
#ResignSturgeon billboard and aerial banner campaign
The Majority launches the #ResignSturgeon campaign, which includes billboards in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, as well as a plane towing a #ResignSturgeon banner over Holyrood and Glasgow city centre.. The Majority, Scotland Matters and UK Union Voice crowdfunded more than £7,000 towards the cost of the campaign. Mark Devlin:
We represent the silent majority of people in Scotland, who are angry and frustrated by Nicola Sturgeon’s shenanigans bringing international shame on Scotland. The Scottish public deserve a Parliament and First Minister above reproach and want the Scottish Government to focus on health, education, jobs and the pandemic. Instead we have a First Minister misleading parliament, breaking the ministerial code and withholding information from an inquiry into her government’s unlawful, unfair and biased actions against Alex Salmond, all while totally neglecting her day job.
Sturgeon launches MV Glen Sannox
The Glen Sannox is launched into the Clyde by Sturgeon, who says:
These state-of-the-art ferries are more sustainable, therefore contributing to Scotland’s world-leading climate change goals. They are also capable of carrying more vehicles and benefiting the communities that rely on them.
Ferguson Marine’s owner, Jim McColl:
The successful launch of the MV Glen Sannox marks an important milestone in Ferguson Marine’s journey to becoming a world-class shipyard. As this is the first ferry in the UK capable of being run on liquefied natural gas and marine gas oil, not only has this been an extremely exciting and ambitious project for both FMEL and CMAL, but it has been an extremely complex one as well. The experience and knowledge gained during this project will be of enormous benefit to the competitiveness of Scottish shipbuilding in the future as technology continues to develop to meet tightening clean energy legislation,
CMAL’s Kevin Hobbs:
The use of LNG in maritime transport is a sign of our ongoing commitment to exploring new fuel technologies for ferries, as well as a wider commitment to innovation in Scotland and consideration for the environmental impact of transport.
Scotland must help ‘shape the future’
At an event at Spirit AeroSystems in Prestwick, Sturgeon talks about innovation.
I want Scotland to be the inventor and producer of the innovations that shape the future – not just a consumer of them. [Scotland has immense economic potential, but warned that the country] must be more ambitious, with government, businesses and wider society working together to lead on the key technological and social changes of the future…R&D drives innovation, which in turn boosts productivity and economic growth. That is why R&D support from our enterprise agencies will increase almost 70% – from £22m to £37m per year. We expect this additional £45m over three years will unlock a further £270m R&D expenditure by companies.
Rajoy rejects Sturgeon’s EU bid
Rajoy responds to Sturgeons meeting with EU officials by dismissing her hope that Scotland could join the EU after Brexit
I want to be very clear: Scotland does not have the competence to negotiate with the European Union. Spain opposes any negotiation by anyone other than the government of the United Kingdom,” he told a news conference following a summit of European leaders in Brussels.
“I am extremely against it, the treaties are extremely against it and I believe everyone is extremely against it. If the United Kingdom leaves … Scotland leaves,” he added. Madrid has a troubled relationship with the separatist inclinations of Catalonia.
Sturgeon said she was not surprised at the Spanish position, adding:
I have a duty as first minister to find a way to give effect to the democratic will of Scotland.
Sturgeon meets EU leaders to discuss Scotland remaining in the EU
Sturgeon holds talks with Juncker and Shulz in an attempt to try to keep Scotland in the EU after Brexit.
My objective at this very early stage is firstly to raise awareness of the fact that Scotland voted differently in this referendum to the UK as a whole and that there is an aspiration and desire in Scotland, cross-party, to protect Scotland’s relationship with the European Union and our place in the European Union. And secondly, to begin the process of mapping out and exploring what the options for Scotland might be. I’m very aware that this is a long process ahead of us. It’s likely to be a difficult and challenging process, but I’m determined that we take every possible step to protect Scotland’s interests at every stage of it.
If there is a way for Scotladn to stay, I am determined to try and find that way. All of the options are on the table. As I say, I don’t underestimate the challenges, but I have been heartend that I have found a willingness to listen.
Jucker said that although he would gladly hear Sturgeon’s case, he was not in a position to enter into talks on Scotland’s future separately from the UK.
Scotland won the right to be heard in Brussels, so I will listen carefully to what the first minister will tell me but we don’t have the intention, neither Donald Tusk nor myself, to interfere in the British process. That is not our job.
Schulz said he had “listened and learned”.
Sturgeon, Murrell marry
Sturgeon and Murrell get married in a civil ceremony at Òran Mór, in Glasgow’s West End. Sturgeon d0es not wear a veil, instead choosing a hairband and a silver necklace. Murrell wears grey, black and purple kilt, and a matching lilac tie. Guest included Alex Salmond, John Swinney and Mike Russell. Instead of a traditional fruit cake, Sturgeon selected a chocolate cake crafted by Scottish teacake producers Tunnock’s.