First Minister John Swinney presents his new Cabinet at Bute House
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00:00You
00:30I
01:00Please
01:11Deputy First Minister, please
01:30I
01:41Assembled my cabinet team. I'm delighted to come in as Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for
01:47the economy and the Gaelic language
01:50We have assembled a team which brings together the strength of the Scottish National Party
01:57To focus on the policy program that I set out in my leadership proposal to the party
02:03anchored in the centre-left of Scottish politics
02:07Focused on the eradication of child poverty and on growing the Scottish economy to ensure that we can be opportunity
02:14For all and I look forward to working with all of my colleagues and taking forward that agenda
02:19First Minister, your opponents will say this is just more of the same, a continuity cabinet in addition to Kate Forbes
02:23What I'd say is that we've assembled the team to focus on the priorities and the people of Scotland and I think we'll be
02:29very successful at doing that
02:31First Minister
02:36Well, I simply reiterate that I represent the centre-left tradition of Scottish politics
02:42That's where the Scottish National Party sits. That's where we'll govern from. We're going to pursue an agenda
02:48which is about ensuring that we stimulate opportunity in our society, eradicate child poverty and we'll do that by growing the economy
02:55Kate, how do you feel about being Prime Minister?
02:57Absolutely delighted. It's an enormous privilege and I look forward to supporting the First Minister as he pursues the priorities of the Scottish people
03:04eradicating poverty, ensuring economic growth and ultimately uniting the country behind the great opportunities of our day
03:11First Minister
03:13Well, obviously my job is here to support John Swinney as First Minister of Scotland, to support the governance agenda
03:21and ultimately to deliver for the people of Scotland who want their government to be eradicating poverty
03:26delivering economic growth and ensuring that we stand as one when it comes to these enormous opportunities ahead
03:33First Minister
03:35Well, I look forward to pursuing what opportunities lie ahead for Scotland
03:40We know we have great opportunities when it comes to the net zero transition
03:46when it comes to unlocking our energy potential and supporting every business in Scotland and every worker
03:51First Minister
03:53Your former partner in government, Patrick Harvie, has just put this tweet out
03:57You can see the message loud and clear
03:59You say you want to govern for all of Scotland, you want to be a First Minister for all of Scotland
04:02I wonder if each of you could perhaps address the concerns that you are moving to the right
04:06and particularly the Deputy Kate Forbes
04:09You've been open about what would be regarded as socially conservative views in comparison to the Greens
04:13How do you address that? How do you regain their trust?
04:16What we've got to make sure is that we're clear with the people of Scotland about our priorities
04:21and I've set out that the Scottish National Party government, under my leadership
04:25supported by the Deputy First Minister and all of my colleagues
04:28will be focused on that centre-left policy position
04:32Building the work that we can take forward to eradicate child poverty
04:36by stimulating the economy and ensuring successful public services
04:40That's the anchored position of the Scottish National Party government
04:45We'll work with Parliament to advance those issues
04:50We will seek common ground with all political parties
04:53because we are now operating as a minority government
04:56We don't have a command of the Parliamentary Chamber
04:59The onus is on everybody to engage in constructive discussion
05:03about how the Scottish Parliament can work together
05:06to address the priorities of the people of Scotland
05:08and I look forward very much to doing that
05:10Do you have a message directly to the LGBT community in Scotland?
05:14The First Minister has been very clear that he cares about
05:18finding more consensus in our politics
05:21uniting the country and indeed the Parliament
05:24behind the big opportunities ahead
05:27It's my job very much to support him in his mission
05:30as he leads Cabinet and Government
05:33in finding those places of consensus
05:36because ultimately the people of Scotland
05:39the length and breadth of this country depend on us to get it right
05:42What about the LGBT community?
05:45If I could just say something
05:47Listen carefully to the words that I concluded my address to Carly with yesterday
05:51I will be the First Minister for everyone in Scotland
05:55Everyone
05:56Whether those individuals are in the LGBT community or not
06:00I will be the First Minister of everybody in Scotland
06:04and my Government will aspire to be a Government
06:07for all the people of our country
06:09The majority of your Cabinet hasn't changed position
06:12Have you made enough changes to signal a reset?
06:15I think what is important is that I focus the SNP
06:19on the work we've got to do to engage with the people of Scotland
06:22with the best talent we've got available
06:24I've assembled a team of the best talent in the Scottish National Party
06:28and we're going to get on with that process
06:30of engaging with people and taking our country forward for our success
06:33OK, I think that's given us all a bit of a turn
06:36Thank you all very much
06:37Thank you for being here
06:38We'll see you soon
06:39Thanks
06:54Quick leave
06:55Quick leave
06:56Quick leave