First Minister has announced he will bring
forward the Scottish Government's legislative programme to ensure
the country is as prepared as possible to secure its future in
the face of the uncertainty facing the global economy.
Speaking during a press conference at Bute House, the First
Minister announced the Programme for Government will be presented
to the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 6 May 2025.
It will set out the actions the Scottish Government will take to
ensure resilience and deliver on the four core priorities to
eradicate child poverty, grow the economy, tackle the climate
emergency and ensure high quality and sustainable public
services.
The First Minister also set out plans to immediately begin work
with key partners in the business community and trade unions to
map out the actions required in Scotland, and the UK as a whole,
to respond to emerging economic challenges and ensure the needs
of the devolved nations are at the heart of UK decision-making.
First Minister said:
“I know that this is a time of great uncertainty for people, that
many families and businesses are worried about what global events
will mean for them.
“We face yet another storm, after almost two decades of knocks
and challenges – the financial crisis, austerity, Brexit, Covid,
the energy price spike following Russia's invasion of Ukraine,
the subsequent inflation spike. Each has weakened us in some way,
but none has defeated us.
“The Programme for Government will be laser-focused on delivery.
It will set out what I believe my government can and will deliver
for the people of Scotland over the coming year.
“The economic headwinds are blowing strong across the Atlantic
and they demand a response that is both immediate and measured.
My Programme for Government will set out what practical steps we
will take to strengthen our response to those headwinds and
ensure Scottish business and our economy is positioned well to
create jobs and grow the economy.
“I want to make sure the UK Government understands where we need
them to do much more to protect Scotland's economic interests. As
a result, I will be bringing together our key partners in the
business community and the trades union movement on Wednesday to
map out the actions we can take, here in Scotland, and which can
be complemented across the UK, to respond to the emerging
economic realities. That work will influence my government's
approach, and I want it to shape the response at a UK level into
the bargain.
“A Scotland that is wealthier, fairer, more resilient – that is
my ambition. I want people feeling more confident about the
future and more secure in the midst of the uncertainties, because
they have a government that is fighting Scotland's corner.
“A government that is bringing people together, so that our
response to the challenges we face is rooted in a Scotland that
is united, prepared and determined, a Scotland confident in its
ability to, once again, weather the storm and come out of that
storm a great deal stronger.”
Background
The first roundtable with the business community and trade unions
to determine the actions required to ensure the resilience of
Scotland's economy will be held on Wednesday 16 April 2025.
