Can I thank the National Secretary for overseeing the ballot and
our team at Headquarters for their efforts throughout this
process.
It is hard to find the words to describe just how honoured I am
to be entrusted by the membership of the SNP to be our Party’s
next leader, and to be on the cusp of being our country’s next
First Minister.
Can I begin by paying tribute to my colleagues, Kate and Ash.
During almost 20 hustings it probably felt like we saw more of
each other than we did our respective partners. You both have put
in an incredible shift, and I know you will continue to work hard
as part of Team SNP.
I am not just humbled, of that I most certainly am, I also feel
like the luckiest man in the world to be standing here as Leader
of the SNP, a party I joined almost 20 years ago and that I love
so dearly.
Friends, the late got it absolutely right when he
said “The opportunity to serve our country, is all we ask”.
To serve my country as First Minister will be the greatest
privilege and honour of my life, should Parliament decide to
elect me as Scotland’s next First Minister tomorrow.
And just as I will lead the SNP in the interests of all party
members, not just those who voted for me, so I will lead Scotland
in the interests of all our citizens whatever your political
allegiance. If elected as your First Minister after tomorrow’s
vote in Parliament, know that I will be a First Minister for all
of Scotland, that I will work every minute of every day to earn
and re-earn your respect and your trust.
I will do that by treating you, the people of Scotland with
respect. There will be no empty promises, no easy soundbites when
the issues in front of us are difficult and complex, because
government is not easy and I won’t pretend it is.
My immediate priority will be to continue to protect every Scot
as far as we can from the harm inflicted by the Cost of Living
Crisis, to recover and reform our NHS and other vital public
services, to support our wellbeing economy and to improve the
life chances of people across our country.
I will move quickly to develop plans to extend childcare, improve
rural housing, support small business, and boost innovation.
I will bring forward reforms of the criminal justice system and
work with local government to empower our local authorities.
And as First Minister I will not shy away from the tough
challenges, those that require the difficult decisions, but where
there is that challenge, I will use it to find opportunity.
My government will seize the economic and social opportunities of
the journey to Net Zero, a country as energy rich as Scotland
should not have people living in fuel poverty. The Government I
lead will renew and redouble our efforts to lift people out of
poverty, to make work fair and make our economy work for people,
and to ensure as we become a more prosperous country we also
become a fairer country.
And while I have had my fair share of battles with the UK
Government over the years, and there may well be some more to
come. I will work with them, and with other devolved nations
constructively where I can in the best interests of our
nation.
I am a proud Scot, and equally a proud European too, and Scotland
is a European nation. We want to return to the European Union and
play our part in building a continent based on human rights,
peace, prosperity and social justice.
To the people of Scotland, the SNP has earned your trust by
governing well, by ensuring that our priorities are your
priorities.
As a Party, and a Government, we are at our best when we are
radical and bold and the challenges we face today require nothing
less of us.
That is what I promise the people of Scotland if Parliament puts
its trust in me tomorrow.
Joining the SNP, for me, was an act of hope and also statement of
intent.
I was determined then, as I am now, as the 14 th leader of this
great party, that we will deliver independence for Scotland –
together as a team.
Leadership elections by their nature can be bruising, however, in
the SNP we are a family.
Over the last five weeks we may have been competitors or
supporters of different candidates, but from today – we are no
longer team Humza, Ash or Kate, we are one team, and we will be
the team, we will be the generation that delivers independence
for Scotland.
Where there are divisions to heal we must do so and do so quickly
because we have a job to do and as a Party we are at our
strongest when we are united, and what unites is our shared goal
of delivering independence for our nation.
To those in Scotland who don’t yet share the passion I do for
independence, I will aim to earn your trust by continuing to
govern well, and earn your respect as First Minister by focussing
on the priorities that matter to us all, and in doing so using
our devolved powers to absolute maximum effect to tackle the
challenges of the day.
For those of us who do believe in independence, we will only win
by making the case on the doorsteps. My solemn commitment to you
is that I will kickstart our grassroots, civic-led movement and
ensure our drive for independence is in 5th gear. The people of
Scotland need independence now more than ever before, and we will
be the generation that delivers it.
Before concluding, I want to take this opportunity to thank some
very special people. I wouldn’t be standing here today if it
wasn’t for the support, encouragement and hard work of a number
of people.
First of all, there is my amazing wife Nadia. She is not just my
rock, she is my compass who helps guide me through the most
difficult of times. There is no way I would be here if it was not
for your love, your support and the advice you give me, thank you
for believing in me and always being there for me. I love you
more than I can ever find words.
To my girls, you are my everything, and while this job at times
will be all-consuming, know that the most important job in my
life is being your dad. To Maya and Amal, you will always come
first.
To my mum, dad and sisters, thank you for your unwavering support
throughout my life, for picking me up when I have been down, and
for telling me to keep going when at times I had my doubts.
I would also like to thank my phenomenal campaign team, who have
worked day and night over the last few weeks to support me, you
have all sacrificed time with your families and friends because,
like me, you believe in our vision of a progressive, socially
just Scotland. I will not let you down.
A special mention to . He is quite simply the best
corner man I could have asked for. During the rollercoaster of
emotion that is any leadership contest, you have been by my side
every step of the way and I would not have made it over the
finish line without your support. And to , your wise counsel has been
indispensable during this contest.
To our now former Leader and her Deputy in
government .
Thank you for your dedicated service to this party, this country
and all its people. You have left me strong foundations to build
on.
And thanks, too, to my colleagues in both parliaments, across
local government and activists around the country who have been
so supportive and encouraging. I will ensure I harness the talent
across the Party and the country as I build the team that will
take Scotland forward and deliver our nation’s independence.
From our brilliant MPs, ably led by and in Westminster to our leaders
in Local Government, as well as he exceptional group of MSPs in
the Scottish Parliament, our Party has enormous talent right
throughout its ranks.
Our parliamentarians, our councillors, our activists and our
members all have a vital part to play on our journey to
independence, as do our friends across the independence
movement.
To have your confidence as I take on the role of SNP Leader means
so much.
My final thanks is to my grandparents, who unfortunately are no
longer alive to see this day. I am forever thankful that my
grandparents made the trip from the Punjab to Scotland over 60
years ago. As immigrants to this country, who knew barely a word
of English, they could not have imagined their grandson would one
day be on the cusp of being the next First Minister of
Scotland.
As Muhammad Yousaf worked in the Singer Sewing Machine Factory in
Clydebank, and as Rehmat Ali Bhutta stamped tickets on the
Glasgow Corporation Buses, they couldn’t have imagined, in their
wildest dreams, that two generations later their grandson would
one day be Scotland’s First Minister.
We should all take pride in the fact that today we have sent a
clear message, that your colour of skin, your faith, is not a
barrier to leading the country we all call home. From the Punjab
to our Parliament, this is a journey over generations that
reminds us that we should celebrate migrants who contribute so
much to our country.
It is what drives my commitment to equality that will underpin my
actions as First Minister.
Thank you for the honour of choosing me to be your nominee to
become Scotland’s 6th First Minister. I will dedicate every
waking moment to serving you, the people of Scotland.
Thank you.
