Andrew Neil interviews Nicola Sturgeon: Full transcript

AN: Nicola Sturgeon the SNP has governed Scotland for ten years, so can we start by agreeing that the performance of Scottish public services is the responsibility of you and the SNP government?

NS: I take responsibility for the performance of our public services, although Scotland’s overall budget of course is determined by decisions taken at Westminster and our budget has been reduced over the years since the Conservatives have been in office.

AN: Let’s start then with Alex Salmond’s former head of policy Alex Bell, this is what he’s had to say. ‘The evidence shows that we, the SNP, haven’t closed the poverty gap, redistributed wealth, improved education of educated more poor people. The sad truth is that pretty much everything we have done to date hasn’t worked.’

NS: Well, it won’t surprise you to hear, Andrew, I don’t agree with that assessment. Let me take education for example, because it’s something I have said is my top priority and something I have recognised we’ve got more work to do on.