A new initiative to unite Scotland together against
extremism.
First Minister will convene a pivotal
gathering of Scottish society to work together
and unite Scotland against the “increasingly extreme far
right”.
Representatives from key organisations across Scotland including
churches, trades unions and charities will be invited to
attend a gathering in April, alongside the leaders of
Scotland's parliamentary parties.
Speaking at a press conference at Bute House, following the
passage of the 2025-26 Budget, the First
Minister said the new gathering will be an
opportunity renew public trust in politics and unite
Scotland in a common cause - “for democracy and respect.”
The First Minister said:
“At the start of the year, I warned that failure to pass the
budget would send a signal that Parliament and politics could not
deliver. That failure would only serve the interests of an
increasingly extreme far right and leave devolution dangerously
exposed.
“But the budget has passed, and a different story can be
told. Yesterday's vote demonstrated that partnership and
collaboration are possible. And that is something precious,
something vitally important itself.
“But we must do more. It is time to come together to draw a line
in the sand. To set out who we are and what we believe in.
“The threat from the far right is real. But that leaves me all
the more convinced that working together is not only the right
choice, but the only choice.
“That is why I want to share a new initiative to bring Scotland
together in common cause. I want us to work together to agree a
common approach to asserting the values of our country, to
bringing people together and creating a cohesive society where
everyone feels at home.
“It was a mobilisation of mainstream Scotland that delivered our
parliament a quarter of a century ago. And I have no doubt, it is
only by mobilising mainstream Scotland that we can protect those
things we care most about, those things that are most important
to us today.”
Background
The First Minister will write to all party leaders and the
leaders of civic organisations with the details of the upcoming
gathering in due course.
A new initiative to bring
Scotland together: First Minister's speech - 26 February 2025 -
gov.scot
