The background against which First Minister Humza Yousaf took to his feet to outline his government’s priorities for Scotland could hardly have been more hostile.
With his party’s treasurer facing police questions, his predecessor absent from the chamber amid concerns that she would be a distraction, and questions being asked of the SNP’s former CEO, the clouds over Mr Yousaf’s announcements were precipitant.
Add to that a much-derided performance at the media huddle immediately preceding his statement. Mr Yousaf could hardly be blamed if he felt a flicker of trepidation as he made his way up the famous steps to the chamber.
If there was concern residing in the back of the First Minister’s mind, it wasn’t evident in his performance. An implacable Mr Yousaf outlined his three missions for the government he will lead through the next three years – themed around Equality, Opportunity, and Community.
On Equality, the First Minister pledged to tackle poverty and protect the people of Scotland from harm. Included in a package of measures were such plans as focusing on progressive taxation to redistribute wealth, convening an anti-poverty group consisting of stakeholders from across politics and broader society, and introducing a Human Rights Bill to parliament.
Turning to Opportunity, the SNP leader pledged to create a fair, green, and growing economy – stressing that economic prosperity and equality were not in conflict. Taking a potshot at his Scottish Conservative opponents, Mr Yousaf guaranteed that he would not treat North Sea oil and gas workers “as Thatcher did” industrial workers. He also committed the government to a hydrogen supply chain and to creating Centres for Excellence for green energy, technology, and digital manufacturing sectors.
It was the Opportunity part of Mr Yousaf’s statement that contained the most politically sensitive and combustible issue – the beleaguered Deposit Return Scheme. The new FM stressed that he “remained committed” to the policy but announced that its launch would be delayed until 1 March 2024.
Also announced was the intention to take the Scottish government’s controversial measures on alcohol advertising “back to the drawing board.” While some may describe this as a U-turn, Mr Yousaf asserted that he was still committed to reducing the harm that alcohol also did but appeared to concede that the proposed ban was not ready for the policy limelight.
“Community” was the word the FM chose to describe his plans for improving Scotland’s public services. Mr Yousaf pledged to make significant improvements in the NHS, including reducing waiting times and lists, delivering £12 per hour pay for adult social care staff, reintroducing rigorous measuring for standards in education, and making public transport more efficient and widely available.
During the following questions session, Mr Yousaf’s calm demeanour cracked. Understandably, given the events outside Holyrood, Labour’s Anas Sarwar and the Scottish Conservatives’ Meghan Gallacher piled in with questions on the SNP’s, and thus Mr Yousaf’s, fitness to govern.
In response to each scathing attack, Mr Yousaf became animated, accusing Labour and the Tories of lacking policy solutions on one count and brazen hypocrisy on the other.
As the dust settles on this important speech, it will be up to Scotland to decide on the more critical issue. Does the country care more about the policy platform, carefully adumbrated during Mr Yousaf’s speech, or the criticisms and the outside events they were based on?
What is clear is that the Scottish Government will need to make a lot of policy noise to distract from the internal woes currently making the national headlines.