Latest news with #Scotland2050Conference
The Herald Scotland
4 hours ago
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
John Swinney: Public sector status quo ‘not sufficient'
It is the first of two speeches to be delivered by Mr Swinney, with the SNP leader also due to address the Scotland 2050 Conference in Edinburgh on Tuesday, where he will argue that Scottish independence is key to achieving Scotland's long-term ambitions. Last week, The Herald revealed that senior SNP activists had warned the First Minister he had two weeks to devise a new independence strategy, or face a potential leadership challenge at the party's conference in October. Discontent has also been simmering among MSPs, with reports of a 'fractious' group meeting at Holyrood last Tuesday. READ MORE In his speech at the Imaging Centre of Excellence at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, the First Minister is expected to say: 'This changing world requires a fundamental change in how we operate. "The status quo — across almost every field of endeavour — is no longer sufficient, it no longer serves us well enough. 'Public services first built in and for the 20th century must become rooted instead in the realities of the 21st. Our public realm reshaped; our nation renewed and reborn for this new age. 'The Scotland I seek is modern and dynamic; it is an enterprising, compassionate, forward-looking nation that is well placed to ride the waves of change rather than being buffeted by them, rather than being overwhelmed by them. 'A Scotland where tomorrow is better than today because, together, we have made it so. 'It means public services too that are modern, accessible, flexible, responsive and seamless. Services capable of responding to life's crises as well as to life's everyday. Services that are robust and creative in response to all the challenges — fiscal, climate, demographic — that are coming our way.' The scale of Scotland's demographic challenge was underlined last week when new figures from the National Records of Scotland showed the number of babies born between January and March was 3.9% below the seasonal average. Just 11,431 births were registered in the first quarter of 2025, compared to a five-year average of 11,891 for the same period. The birth rate now stands at 8.4 per 1,000 people, continuing a long-term decline. The latest figures also show a notable fall in mortality. A total of 16,721 deaths were registered in the first quarter of the year — 7.7% below the expected number of 18,123. In a recent report, the Scottish Fiscal Commission warned that these demographic pressures would place 'significant pressures' on Scotland's public finances. The watchdog said health — the largest area of Scottish Government spending — is expected to grow faster than any other part of the budget due to these shifts and rising demand. According to the latest ONS projections, the number of Scots aged 85 and over is set to nearly double by 2050. The Commission's chair, Professor Graeme Roy, said improving the underlying health of the population 'would lead to benefits to the public finances through lower spending and higher tax revenues and help to address the long‑term fiscal sustainability challenges.'
The National
a day ago
- Business
- The National
Scotland's 2050 vision rests on achieving independence
In two keynote speeches this week, John Swinney will set out his vision for the country in the coming decades and encourage leaders to come together to deliver a national renewal 'in the spirit of optimism and hope'. On Monday, he will address those in the health, local government, education, justice and third sectors in Glasgow. He will set out his case for public service reforms in the medium term and how new technology will be key to delivering this. READ MORE: Why did Israel attack Iran and have they again broken international law? On Tuesday, the SNP leader will address the Scotland 2050 Conference in Edinburgh, where he will say that independence is key to achieving Scotland's goals for the middle of the century. Speaking ahead of the speeches, Swinney attacked austerity, which he said had weakened the UK and hurt the most vulnerable. But he urged Scots to be positive about their future. He said: 'Times are tough right now for a lot of people – and when that is the case, it can be easy to forget how much there is to be positive about in Scotland. 'As First Minister, I see so much collaboration, ingenuity and innovation taking place around the country. 'Our collective task is to harness what is going well ensure every part of Scotland can thrive.' The First Minister said the UK had been a 'perfect example of how not to prepare for the future'. He said: 'After the devastating financial crash of 2008, Westminster's response was not to hold those who were responsible to account – but rather to punish those not responsible. 'Social security support was taken from vulnerable people, funding for vital public services was cut and living standards were eroded.' He described austerity as 'morally wrong' and that it had negatively impacted the nation's health, skills and infrastructure, adding that 'it is clear that that short-sighted decision has also been fiscally disastrous in the long-term'. He said: 'Why cut funding to invest in new technologies when we know it can save in the long term? 'Why take away young people's opportunities if it will reduce their potential to thrive as adults? 'Why cut the winter fuel payment if it leads to older people more exposed to ill health?' READ MORE: Mhairi Black: We're all angry – but let's be clear about who's to blame He went on: 'The harsh lesson of that 15 years of lost opportunity must spur us on to building a better future – let us deliver a spirit of optimism and hope. 'In the year 2050, do we want to be looking back on how we picked up the pieces from another 25 years of Westminster mismanagement? 'Or should we look around us at our immense potential today, and have the confidence that we can do better with the full powers of independence? 'The Scotland I seek is modern and dynamic; it is an enterprising, compassionate, forward-looking nation that is well-placed to ride the waves of change rather than being buffeted by them, rather than being overwhelmed by them. 'A Scotland where tomorrow is better than today because – together – we have made it so.'
