 | 'Asked by a member of the audience if he could effect a second "political earthquake" by winning the upcoming Glenrothes byelection in the same way as he did in Glasgow East, Salmond quoted the golfer Gary Player, who, when told he was lucky to have won a match, replied that the more he practised the luckier he got.' Kirsty Scott in the Guardian, 20 th August 2008. |  |
Scotland's first minister, Alex Salmond, has unveiled a series of measures to bolster the Scottish economy against the current global economic crisis, including the release of up to £100m for affordable housing.
Delivering the annual Donald Dewar lecture at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Salmond, said that in spite of the political constraints of devolution, there was much that the Scottish government could do to help the Scottish economy cope and ease pressure on households and businesses.
A few hours earlier, the SNP leader announced that £100m of cash was to be made available ahead of schedule to help deliver affordable housing. The money, originally earmarked for 2010 and 2011 would, in part, address economic challenges and bolster efforts to help first-time buyers.
Speaking to a sell-out audience in the capital, Salmond also detailed efforts to boost tourism, ease planning restrictions and focus capital spending to promote growth.
"We face, as a country, economic challenges, some of these we face in common with the western world," Salmond said.
"We also face a situation where our determination over macroeconomic policy is extremely limited. Nonetheless, I think it's right and proper that the Scottish government commits itself to focus on efforts towards a single overarching purpose of increasing sustainable economic growth in Scotland."
He added: "More than that I want to restate a basic contention of the government. That there is every reason to be confident in the future of the Scottish economy, our workforce and businesses and this country's ability to define and seize new economic opportunities."
Salmond said Scotland's international reputation was growing.
"Other people, right now, see Scotland not as backmarkers but as frontrunners. There is no doubt, in this decade, since Donald Dewar reopened the Scottish parliament, the nation is growing in confidence and stature, and today in the parliament, we see a different political culture struggling to emerge.
"The old lobbying culture, is giving way, in my opinion to a more open, flexible democratic chamber based on multiple coalitions of ideas and aspirations. In our people we see a new ambition, taking pride in this country and its potential, with the confidence to elect a government that unashamedly puts Scottish interests first.
"In short, across the whole of society Scotland is moving forward whatever the short-term smoke of difficulties in the economy.
"We welcome the new confident nation. We are proud to serve it. Thanks to the work of the democratic pioneers such as Donald Dewar, whatever the constitutional configuration of our country we can stand the opportunity to be one of the true successes of the 21st century."
Asked by a member of the audience if he could effect a second "political earthquake" by winning the upcoming Glenrothes byelection in the same way as he did in Glasgow East, Salmond quoted the golfer Gary Player, who, when told he was lucky to have won a match, replied that the more he practised the luckier he got.
"In Central Fife I can promise you the SNP will be practising hard and will be taking nothing for granted and we will be working as hard, if not harder than we worked in Glasgow East," Salmond said. "I think the folk in Glasgow East didn't make a mistake. They knew what they were doing."
The Glenrothes seat became vacant following the recent death of Labour MP John MacDougall. MacDougall had a 10,600 majority but the seat is considered vulnerable to a resurgent SNP.
Salmond refused to say that the loss of Glenrothes would prove the fatal blow for Gordon Brown's leadership, but he said he did have a message for the prime minister.
"Gordon does not have his problems to seek," he said. "I have two pieces of advice. Change his policies and cheer up, for God's sake."
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