Economy 'succumbs to independence'

Sep 5 2012

First Minister Alex Salmond has been accused of focusing on independence at the expense of economic issues.

Opposition politicians at Holyrood spoke out on the second day of debate on the SNP's programme for government.

Mr Salmond has outlined 15 Bills, including the centrepiece Referendum Bill.

He has also reshuffled his cabinet, handing his deputy, Nicola Sturgeon, a major role to lead the referendum campaign.

Tory MSP Jackson Carlaw said: "Never has the reception in the short life of this Parliament to a government's programme been so lacklustre that the First Minister has felt it necessary to reshuffle his team within 24 hours of it being announced."

The 15 Bills include one to legalise same-sex marriage and one which Mr Salmond claimed would give families the greatest level of free childcare in the UK.

Referring to the previous minority government, Mr Carlaw said the re-elected majority Government is becoming arrogant.

"The last SNP Government was a minority government that reached across the chamber. I think history will judge it more fairly than this one," he said.

"This Government has to be careful. It's becoming belligerent. It's showing a lack of candour. It has an inability to accept error. It has a refusal to accept advice. It's become arrogant. There is hubris.

"A focus on the agenda of Scotland must take precedence over a focus on an independence agenda for Scotland."