Accepting the leadership of the SNP on Monday, John Swinney said his political priority as Scotland’s seventh First Minister would be the eradication of child poverty. If he is sincere in his desire to achieve this ambition, then Scotland’s economic growth – just 0.2 per cent last year – needs be a great deal better.
As soon as Swinney gets his feet under the First Ministerial desk, he must throw open his doors to Scotland’s business leaders and show them the love his party has been withholding for the last decade.
Shortly after the SNP won its first Scottish parliamentary election in 2007, new First Minister Alex Salmond fired off a chummy letter to a major player in Scottish business. Salmond, then leader of the SNP, wished the recipient to know not only that he was watching his latest deal closely but that the First Minister’s office was ready to assist with the process.
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