Biography alex salmond snp conference 2013

Delegates, we are entering a new chapter in our nation’s history.

In less than one year’s time the people of Scotland will have the opportunity of a generation.

That opportunity on September the 18th is this:

TO BUILD A PROSPEROUS COUNTRY

TO CREATE A JUST SOCIETY.

TO BECOME AN INDEPENDENT COUNTRY.

Now for supporters across the land this is the campaign we have been working towards all our lives.

It is a time for both anticipation and also for reflection.

To reflect on the efforts of those who gave so much. Great colleagues who have died in recent years such as Billy Wolfe, Allan Macartney, Margaret Ewing, Neil MacCormick, Bashir Ahmad and Jimmy Reid and many others.

And even more recently Kay Matheson, Allison Hunter and Brian Adam MSP.

It was an honour to speak at Brian’s funeral in Aberdeen in the summer as we celebrated the contribution of an outstanding human being.

We all know Brian did a huge amount to encourage and inspire young people, particularly those from overseas, to come to Scotland and get involved in politics.

Conference, I’m therefore delighted to announce that the SNP’s internship programme in the Scottish Parliament will now be dedicated in Brian Adam’s memory.

We are standing on the shoulders of giants who kept Scotland’s flame alive.

And how they would have relished the next eleven months.

So let’s keep our colleagues in our hearts as we remember how lucky, how lucky we are to live in this moment.

And let’s use their inspiration to secure Scotland’s place as a full and independent member of the family of nations.

But friends – a Yes vote is not about a victory for the SNP.

Or even a victory for the Yes campaign.

Or even for the huge coalition of interests and enthusiasm that supports a Yes vote.

It will be, above all, an act of national self-confidence and self-belief.

We – the people of Scotland – have – by far – the greatest stake in its success

Independence White Paper

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M, in the name of Alex Salmond, on the independence white paper.

I call the First Minister, Alex Salmond, to speak to and move the motion.

In next year’s referendum, the people of Scotland will be asked to choose between two futures. The choice will be to take the future into our own hands or to continue to allow key aspects of Scottish life to be controlled by Westminster Governments that will often, as now, have been overwhelmingly and decisively rejected by voters in Scotland.

Yesterday, the Scottish Government published our vision of a better Scotland. Across pages and , words, addressing questions, “Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland” sets out how we can build a fairer, more prosperous and more democratic country. It is the most comprehensive blueprint for independence that has been published not just for Scotland, but for any country anywhere at any time.

A lot of the response to the white paper was sadly predictable.

Willie Rennie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD)

Will the First Minister give way?

The First Minister

On the subject of being sadly predictable, I give way to Mr Rennie.

I thank the First Minister for that compliment.

The First Minister talks about other countries in the world. Can he tell me whether his Government, his ministers or his officials have received any feedback from any other European Union country about Scotland’s membership of the EU? Have they indicated that that would be at all difficult? Can he tell me precisely whether he has had that feedback?

The Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs is briefing the consular corps today. I will arrange for Fiona Hyslop to give Mr Rennie a full briefing to put his mind at rest.

There was some sadly predictable reaction from the better together camp. Within an hour of the white paper’s publication, Alistair Darling described it as being tot

First Minister of Scotland from to

For other people named Alexander Salmond, see Alexander Salmond.

Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond (SAM-ənd; 31 December – 12 October ) was a Scottish politician who served as First Minister of Scotland from to A prominent figure in the Scottish nationalist movement, he was Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) on two occasions, from to and from to He then served as leader of the Alba Party from until his death in

A graduate of the University of St Andrews, he worked as an economist in the Scottish Office, and later, the Royal Bank of Scotland. He was elected to the British House of Commons in , serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Banff and Buchan from to In , he successfully defeated Margaret Ewing in the SNP leadership contest. Salmond led the party through the first election to the Scottish Parliament in , where the SNP emerged as the second largest party, with Salmond as the Leader of the Opposition. He was elected as the Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Banff and Buchan in that year's election. He resigned as leader in and stood down as an MSP the following year, when he was appointed leader of the SNP's Westminster group. Salmond was re-elected as leader of the SNP in the leadership contest, after running on a joint ticket with Nicola Sturgeon. She led the SNP at Holyrood until Salmond was elected to the Scottish Parliament in for Gordon (later Aberdeenshire East). The SNP placed first, ahead of the governingLabour Party in the election by one seat, with Salmond securing a confidence and supply support from the Scottish Greens, resulting in Salmond's appointment as first minister.

Salmond led an SNP minority government in his first term. His government passed landmark legislation, including the abolition of university tuition fees, the scrapping of prescription charges and commitment to renewable energy. Salmond was the first nationalist first minister and in his first t