Category Archives: Nicola Sturgeon

Teary Nicola Sturgeon Admits To Feeling ‘Overwhelmed’ During Covid-19 Pandemic

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LONDON (AP) — The former Scottish leader in office during the Covid-19 pandemic choked up on Wednesday as she admitted to a public inquiry into the outbreak that she sometimes doubted whether she wanted to be first minister at such a consequential time.

Nicola Sturgeon told the United Kingdom’s public inquiry into the pandemic that she sometimes felt “overwhelmed by the scale of what we were dealing with”, particularly at the start of the pandemic in the first half of 2020. Although Scotland is part of the UK, its government has powers over matters relating to public health.

“I was the first minister when the pandemic struck,” she said in Edinburgh. “There’s a large part of me wishes that I hadn’t been, but I was, and I wanted to be the best first minister.”

Nicola Sturgeon departs the UK Covid Inquiry.
Nicola Sturgeon departs the UK Covid Inquiry.

Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images

Sturgeon, 53, became first minister in 2014 after Scotland voted to remain part of the UK in a referendum and was in office until her surprise resignation in 2023.

Sturgeon won numerous plaudits for her handling of the pandemic. She was widely seen to have been on top of things, and clear in her public pronouncements, especially when compared to former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who led policy in England and who gave evidence to the inquiry late last year.

The UK suffered one of the worst Covid-related death tolls during the pandemic, with around 235,000 deaths. Scotland’s death toll stands at more than 18,000

However, Sturgeon’s reputation has taken a battering over the past few months, especially in the wake of her arrest last June over a police investigation into the finances of the governing, pro-independence Scottish National Party. She hasn’t been charged and insists she has done nothing wrong.

Sturgeon’s standing has been further dented by the recent revelation that her WhatsApp messages had been deleted, which has led to questions about her trustworthiness.

She admitted to the inquiry that she deleted WhatsApp messages but insisted that she didn’t use informal messaging such as WhatsApp to make decisions.

“During the pandemic I did not make extensive use of informal messaging and certainly did not use it to make decisions,” she said.

While Sturgeon conceded that WhatsApp had become “too common” within the Scottish government, Sturgeon said she exchanged WhatsApps with no more than a “handful” of people, and wasn’t a member of any groups.

She said she deleted messages in line with official advice that messages could be comprised if a phone was lost or stolen, and that “salient” points were all recorded on the corporate record.

The former first minister said she had “always assumed there would be a public inquiry” and apologised for any lack of clarity at a public briefing in August 2021 where she said her WhatsApps would be handed over despite knowing they had already been deleted.

Last week, Sturgeon’s successor as first minister, Humza Yousaf, offered an “unreserved” apology for the Scottish government’s “frankly poor” handling of requests for WhatsApp messages. He has announced an external review into the government’s use of mobile messaging.

The inquiry is divided into four so-called modules, with the current phase focusing on political decision-making around major developments, such as the timing of lockdowns. Though the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland had policy independence, the UK as a whole often moved as one, especially when it came to lockdown decisions.

The inquiry, led by retired Judge Heather Hallett, is expected to take three years to complete, though interim assessments are set to be published.

Johnson agreed in late 2021 to hold a public inquiry after heavy pressure from bereaved families, who have been particularly angry at the evidence emerging about his actions.

The lawyer representing the Scottish Covid Bereaved group, Aamer Anwar, said Sturgeon had delivered a “polished performance” but that his clients were “deeply unsatisfied” with the explanations around the deletion of WhatsApp messages.

He said the group is considering calling for a criminal investigation into the actions of the former first minister and others.

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Nicola Sturgeon Says She Is ‘Innocent Of Any Wrongdoing’ Following Arrest

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Nicola Sturgeon has insisted she is “innocent of any wrongdoing” following her arrest as part of a police probe into the SNP’s finances.

The former first minister was quizzed by detectives for seven hours before being released without charge.

Police Scotland have launched an investigation into the whereabouts of £660,000 donated to the SNP for a second independence referendum campaign

Sturgeon’s husband, former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, and the party’s former treasurer, Colin Beattie, have previously been arrested as part of the probe, known as Operation Branchform.

Following her release this evening, Sturgeon issued a statement on Twitter in which she said it was “beyond doubt” that she was innocent.

She said: “To find myself in the situation I did today when I am certain I have committed no offence is both a shock and deeply distressing.

“I know that this ongoing investigation is difficult for people, and I am grateful that so many continue to show faith in me and appreciate that I would never do anything to harm either the SNP or the country.”

Ms Sturgeon went on: “Obviously, given the nature of this process, I cannot go into detail.

“However, I do wish to say this, and to do so in the strongest possible terms. Innocence is not just a presumption I am entitled to in law. I know beyond doubt that I am in fact innocent of any wrongdoing.”

Sturgeon thanked “the many people who have sent messages of support over these past difficult weeks – including since today’s news broke”.

She added: “Thank you also to my close circle of family and friends who are giving me much-needed strength at this time.”

Police Scotland are investigating claims that the donations from activists to support the campaign for a second independence referendum were used for other purposes.

The inquiry was launched following allegations that the money, which was meant to be in a ring-fenced fund, had been misappropriated.

An SNP spokesperson said: “These issues are subject to a live police investigation.

“The SNP have been co-operating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so, however it is not appropriate to publicly address any issues while that investigation is ongoing.”

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Nicola Sturgeon Has Been Arrested By Police Probing The SNP’s Finances

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Nicola Sturgeon has been released by police after being arrested as part of their investigation into the SNP’s finances.

Scotland’s former first minister was questioned for seven hours by detectives investigating the whereabouts of £660,000 donated to the party for a second independence referendum campaign.

She was released without charge pending further investigations.

Sturgeon’s husband, former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, and the party’s treasurer, Colin Beattie, have previously been arrested as part of the probe, known as Operation Branchform.

In a statement, Police Scotland said: “A 52-year-old woman has today, Sunday, June 11, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party.”

A spokeswoman for Sturgeon said: “By arrangement with Police Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon attended an interview where she was to be arrested and questioned in relation to Operation Branchform.

“Nicola has consistently said she would co-operate with the investigation if asked and continues to do so.”

Police Scotland are investigating claims that the donations from activists to support the campaign for a second independence referendum were used for other purposes.

The inquiry was launched following allegations that the money, which was meant to be in a ring-fenced fund, had been misappropriated.

An SNP spokesperson said: “These issues are subject to a live police investigation.

“The SNP have been co-operating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so, however it is not appropriate to publicly address any issues while that investigation is ongoing.”

Labour’s shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray saying: “This is a deeply concerning development and the Police Scotland investigation must be allowed to proceed without interference.

“For too long, a culture of secrecy and cover-up has been allowed to fester at the heart of the SNP.”

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Nicola Sturgeon Says She Will ‘Fully Cooperate’ If Police Want To Quiz Her On SNP Finances

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Nicola Sturgeon has said she will “fully co-operate” with the police if they want to quiz her in their investigation into the SNP’s finances.

In her first public comments since the arrest of her husband, Peter Murrell, the former first minister also asked for “privacy” as she tries to “get on with life”.

She was speaking outside the home the couple share on the outskirts of Glasgow.

Detectives swooped on the house earlier this week, taking Murrell into custody and erecting a large incident tent in the front garden as they carried out a thorough search of the property.

He was later released without charge after being quizzed for 11 hours.

Asked if she had also been interviewed by the police, Sturgeon said: “I haven’t but I will fully cooperate with the police … if they do.”

The probe are centres around the whereabouts of around £660,000 which was earmarked for Scottish independence campaigning.

The investigation, called Operation Branchform, was launched following allegations that the money, which was meant to be in a ring-fenced fund, had been misappropriated. The party has denied any wrongdoing.

Sturgeon cancelled a public appearance she had been due to make the day after Murrell’s arrest.

Speaking this afternoon, she said: “I’m also entitled to a little bit of privacy in my own home, and my neighbours I think are also entitled to a wee bit of privacy as well.

“Over the years, as a result of living next door to me, they’ve been subjected to more than their fair share of disruption and inconvenience.

“And that has obviously been particularly the case over the last couple of years.

“So as all of you do your jobs, I hope and I know you’ll get some respect to that. So that’s really all I needed to say.”

She added: “So that’s all really I’m able to say just now, other than I intend to get on with life and my job as you would expect.”

The SNP has been plunged into crisis following Sturgeon’s shock resignation in February.

Humza Yousaf was narrowly elected her successor as SNP leader following a bruising leadership election, during which it also emerged that the party has lost 30,000 members in recent months.

Party officials had initially denied the story when it was reported by the Sunday Mail, but eventually confirmed it was true.

That led to the resignation of the SNP’s head of press, Murray Foote, followed by Peter Murrell quitting as the party’s chief executive.

He said: “Responsibility for the SNP’s responses to media queries about our membership number lies with me as chief executive.

“While there was no intent to mislead, I accept that this has been the outcome.

“I have therefore decided to confirm my intention to step down as chief executive with immediate effect.”

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Kate Forbes Makes It Through To SNP Leadership Run-Off Despite Gay Marriage Row

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Kate Forbes has made it through to the final run-off in the race to replace Nicola Sturgeon as SNP leader despite the furore caused by her stance on equal marriage.

The Scottish finance secretary will face Humza Yousaf and Ash Regan in a three-horse race to become first minister.

All three made it on to the ballot paper after nominations closed on Friday.

In a separate boost for Forbes, a new poll showed she is the most popular candidate among SNP supporters.

Forbes’s campaign got off to a rocky start after she gave a series of interviews in which she set out her strict religious views.

She revealed that she would have voted against equal marriage had she been an MSP when the law was passed, and that she believed having children outside of marriage was “wrong”.

While Forbes made clear her beliefs were personal and that she would defend any existing rights, her views led to a number of her colleagues withdrawing their support.

She later said she had felt “greatly burdened” by the hurt caused by her media responses, but also questioned whether Scotland had become “so illiberal that we cannot have these discussions”.

According to the poll of SNP members, 28% said they would back Forbes, followed by 20% for Yousaf and 7% for Regan.

The poll, carried out for communications agency the Big Partnership, involved 1,001 Scots who voted SNP in 2021. They were questioned between Monday and Wednesday this week.

It also found that only 5% of SNP supporters think the new leader’s faith or personal beliefs are important, while almost a third still did not know who to back.

This morning, Regan officially launched her campaign with a pledge that under her leadership, every election – either at Holyrood or Westminster – would be treated as a de facto independence referendum.

In an interview with the Herald, she said the SNP had “dismantled” the Yes movement since the independence referendum and that she wanted to give it “back to the people” so the Scottish government can focus on running the country.

Regan was thrust into the limelight earlier this year when she resigned from government in opposition to Sturgeon’s controversial gender reform bill, which has been blocked by Westminster. She has vowed to drop the reforms if she is elected.

Forbes also confirmed that she would not have voted for the government’s gender reforms had she not been on maternity leave when the vote was passed.

The issue separates Regan and Forbes from Yousaf, who is a vocal supporter of trans rights and is largely considered to be the favoured “continuity Sturgeon” candidate.

However, the health secretary has come under fire after he was accused of deliberately missing the vote to legalise gay marriage by setting up a “diary clash” for the same day.

In comments reported by the Independent, Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting claimed it was “common knowledge” that Yousaf was in parliament for the day of the vote.

“It’s all very well being courageous about equality when the battle has been fought and won,” Streeting said. “But where were you, Hamsa, when the battle was ongoing?

“It is perfectly reasonable to ask Yousaf if he supports equal marriage, as he says he does, “why did you abstain in the vote?” — when everyone knows he was in the Scottish parliament that day.”

In response, Yousaf told ITV he missed the vote “for good reason” after he had a meeting with the Pakistan consulate over the case of a Scottish citizen on death row.

He also told Sky News that the issue had been “resurrected” to undermine his position in the leadership contest.

Following the close of nominations, SNP members will take part in a postal vote to choose their next leader, with the winner announced on March 27.

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Nicola Sturgeon Resigns As Scottish First Minister Saying It’s Been A ‘Privilege’

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Nicola Sturgeon has resigned as Scotland’s first minister after more than eight years in the job.

The Scottish National Party leader said she will step down after her successor is elected.

Sturgeon made the announcement at a press conference in Edinburgh on Wednesday morning saying she had been “wrestling” with the question for some weeks.

“Part of serving well would be to know, almost instinctively, when the time is right to make way for someone else,” Sturgeon said.

“In my head and in my heart I know that time is now. That it is right for me, for my party and for the country.”

Sturgeon has been first minister since November 2014, when she took over from Alex Salmond following the independence referendum.

She has been the country’s longest-serving first minister.

The news came as a surprise after Sturgeon insisted just three weeks ago she was “nowhere near” ready to quit as Scotland’s first minister.

Sturgeon also told the BBC last month she would “like to think” she would be the leader to take Scotland out of the UK.

However, BBC chief political correspondent Nick Eardley reported a source close to her saying: “She’s had enough.”

Sturgeon has recently been embroiled in a row over her government’s attempt to make it easier for people to legally change gender.

The plans have now been blocked by Westminster but triggered a leadership crisis.

Internal dissent, almost unheard of in the SNP, broke out over Sturgeon’s handling of the affair.

Voters also started to make clear their dissatisfaction after a YouGov poll showed Sturgeon’s approval ratings had plummeted to negative territory.

However, during her speech Sturgeon said her decision to resign was “not a reaction to short-term pressures”.

“This decision comes from a deeper and longer-term assessment,” she said.

Pressed on the row surrounding transgender prisoners, Sturgeon insisted: “No, that issue wasn’t the final straw”.

Sturgeon also confirmed she was “not leaving politics”, adding that she will continue to fight for Scottish independence.

Alison Thewliss, the SNP MP for Glasgow Central and the party’s home affairs spokesperson, said she was “gutted”.

She tweeted: “Absolutely gutted about this. Nicola has been an incredible leader.”

SNP MP Stewart McDonald described Sturgeon as “the finest public servant of the devolution age”.

“Nicola Sturgeon is the finest public servant of the devolution age,” the MP for Glasgow South tweeted.

“Her public service, personal resilience and commitment to Scotland is unmatched, and she has served our party unlike anyone else. She will be an enormous loss as first minister and SNP leader. Thank you!”

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16 Year Olds Are Old Enough To Decide Gender Change, Education Secretary Says

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The Education Secretary has suggested that 16 year olds are old enough to decide to change their gender.

Gillian Keegan knocked back suggestions that 16 was too young, saying: “I was making decisions for myself at 16.”

It comes after Rishi Sunak moved to block Scottish reforms of the gender recognition process passed by Holyrood.

The new law would make it easier for trans people to change gender by reducing the time the process takes and lowering the age at which it can happen to 16.

Asked if she would be content for children in schools at 16 to say whether they want to change their gender, Keegan told Sky News: “We have to be very sensitive to children. We are actually going to publish some guidance and consult because it is a very tricky area to get right.

“It has to be age-appropriate, but children have to be supported as well.”

Pressed on her personal view, the minister was asked if 16 was too young.

“No I don’t actually. “I was working at 16, I was paying tax at 16, I was making decisions for myself at 16,” she replied.

“But it’s not really about what I think, it’s how we make sure we get that right balance of supporting children, but also making sure that what they’re getting taught in schools is age-appropriate.”

Labour leader Keir Starmer said he has “concerns” over Scotland’s gender recognition law because he considers 16 to be too young to decide to change gender.

Yesterday, the UK government took the unprecedented step of blocking Scotland’s gender reforms from becoming law.

It is the first time Westminster has used the power since devolution came into being nearly 25 years ago.

Scottish secretary Alister Jack wrote to Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon to inform her that he was making a so-called “section 35 order” vetoing the bill which was passed at Holyrood before Christmas.

It followed advice from government lawyers that the bill would cut across the UK-wide Equality Act.

In a statement, Jack said: “Transgender people who are going through the process to change their legal sex deserve our respect, support and understanding. My decision today is about the legislation’s consequences for the operation of GB-wide equalities protections and other reserved matters.”

Responding to the news, Sturgeon accused the UK government of “a full-frontal attack” on the Scottish parliament.

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Battle Of Britain: Rishi Sunak Set To Block Scotland’s Gender Recognition Law

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Rishi Sunak returns to London this morning after spending two days in Scotland.

His visit included a private dinner with Nicola Sturgeon on Thursday evening, during which the pair discussed, among other things, the many issues that divide them.

Nevertheless, the prime minister said he wanted the pair to “strengthen our working relationship and continue discussing our shared challenges and our joint efforts to deliver for people in Scotland”.

But that laudable intention will be blown to pieces next Wednesday if, as HuffPost UK understands, Sunak’s government takes the unprecedented step of blocking a bill passed at Holyrood from becoming law.

The legislation in question is the Gender Recognition Reform Act, which was passed by the Scottish Parliament before Christmas after a fierce debate which highlighted splits on the issue in the main parties.

In simple terms, the new law would make it easier for trans people to change gender by reducing the time the process takes and lowering the age at which it can happen.

The Westminster government has no intention of bringing in a similar bill, giving rise to potential legal problems over how the Scotland-only law would affect the application of the Equalities Act across the UK.

Ministers in London can block Holyrood legislation in such circumstances by triggering section 35 of the Scotland Act — which brought the Scottish Parliament into being in 1999.

That would prevent the presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament from sending the bill to the King for royal assent.

Whitehall sources say Alister Jack, the secretary of state for Scotland, will announce on Wednesday that the UK government will block the bill.

Coming at a time when the SNP are already accusing Westminster of “denying democracy” by not allowing another referendum on independence, this would be the political equivalent of throwing a match into a box of fireworks.

Sunak held "constructive" talks with Nicola Sturgeon in Scotland on Thursday.
Sunak held “constructive” talks with Nicola Sturgeon in Scotland on Thursday.

10 Downing Street

Asked about the issue while in Scotland, Sunak was giving little away.

“Obviously this is a very sensitive area and I know there were very robust debates and exchanges on it as the bill was passing in in Scotland,” he said.

“What I’m concerned about is the impact of the bill across the United Kingdom.

“There may be impacts across the UK that we need to be aware of and understand the impact of them, and that’s what we’re doing, and once the government has received final advice it will set out next steps.”

Stephen Flynn, the SNP leader at Westminster, gave a foretaste of what his party’s reaction will be if the UK government does indeed veto the Gender Reform Recognition Act.

He said: “This goes to the heart of Scotland’s democracy because Scotland’s democratically elected parliament has approved legislation in relation to gender recognition and the UK government is potentially going to try and undermine that. That’s simply not on.”

It’s not a straightforward issue for the SNP, however.

The debate in the Scottish Parliament saw the biggest rebellion against the party leadership since it came to power in 2007, with some SNP MSPs voting against what they see as an attack on women’s sex-based rights.

The SNP’s Westminster group is also split, with Edinburgh South West MP Joanna Cherry one of the most vocal opponents of the Scottish government’s position.

Will those SNP rebels back the UK government blocking a law they hate, or will they row in behind Sturgeon over what their party claims is an attack on devolution itself?

Joanna Cherry speaking at the For Women Scotland and the Scottish Feminist Network demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament ahead of last month's vote on the Gender Recognition Reform Act.
Joanna Cherry speaking at the For Women Scotland and the Scottish Feminist Network demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament ahead of last month’s vote on the Gender Recognition Reform Act.

Lesley Martin via PA Wire/PA Images

One constitutional expert told HuffPost UK that the row will ultimately end up in the Supreme Court, which ruled in November that the Scottish Parliament does not have the power to organise its own independence referendum.

“Using such a radical mechanism as a veto power does rather play into the SNP narrative that Westminster is denying democracy, which seems to me to be politically risky,” they said.

“As we approach the 25th anniversary of devolution, it is a big moment.”

For all his warm words about co-operation with the Scottish government, it seems all-but certain that Sunak is just days away from a constitutional crisis which could end up defining the very future of the United Kingdom.

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Nicola Sturgeon Sparks Backlash After Saying She ‘Detests’ Tories

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Nicola Sturgeon has sparked a backlash for saying “I detest the Tories” during a BBC interview.

Scotland’s first minister has been accused of using “dangerous language” after she took a swipe at the Conservatives.

Sturgeon told the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme: “If the question to me is would I prefer a Labour government over a Tory government – I detest the Tories and everything they stand for – so it’s not difficult to answer that question.”

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Nadhim Zahawi hit back: “I think that language is really dangerous.

“I prefer to work with my colleagues in Scotland on delivering the free ports, the green ports, as I want to do with [Deputy First Minister] John Swinney and others.”

Tory MP Andrew Bowie commented: “That’s the first minister of Scotland ‘detesting’ a quarter of the Scottish electorate.

“Good to see the language of respectful disagreement being demonstrated here. Btw, how’s that plan to win over 2014 no voters going?”

While Sturgeon said she would favour a Labour government, she added: “Being better than the Tories is not a high bar to cross right now.

“I think we need to see more of a radical alternative from Labour rather than just a pale imitation.

“If you’re asking me do I think either a Westminster Tory government or a Westminster Labour government are good enough for Scotland, then my answer to that is no.”

She also told the broadcaster she was disappointed that Labour leader Keir Starmer had “thrown in the towel” on re-joining the European Union.

During the interview, Sturgeon said she was “confident” that a second Scottish independence referendum will take place next October.

She dismissed opinion polls that show people do not want indyref2 now or in the next few years, saying they did not need to look at the polls to know there was a mandate for another referendum.

The SNP want to hold a vote next autumn if the Supreme Court rules that ordering a ballot is within the powers of the Scottish parliament.

Sturgeon said plans were “ready to go” to legislate for the referendum – if it gets the go ahead from the court.

The first minister also claimed that any attempt to boycott an indyref2 would show the UK government does not believe it can win the case for the union.

However, some – including Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross – have suggested the unionist side could boycott the referendum.

Sturgeon went on to say that she believed the “vast majority” of Scots would take part in the referendum and she was “confident Scotland will become independent”.

The Scottish government is expected to publish a new paper setting out its plans for the economy and currency of an independent Scotland next week.

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Keep Renationalisation Of Energy Firms ‘On The Table’, Pleads Nicola Sturgeon

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Nicola Sturgeon has said renationalising energy firms should be kept “on the table” to combat the deepening cost of living crisis.

Scotland’s first minister said the energy price cap rise, due to be announced on Friday, should not “be allowed to go ahead”, as she warned it would push families into “destitution and devastation”.

Sturgeon said the country faces a “looming disaster” with energy bills as she prepares to convene a summit of major energy suppliers Scottish Power, OVO Energy and E.ON next week.

The current price cap is set at £1,971 but is expected to reach £3,576 in October and will gradually rise to more than £4,000 by the new year before peaking at £6,000 by April.

Speaking on BBC Scotland’s The Sunday Show, Sturgeon said: “This further increase in people’s energy bills can’t be allowed to go ahead because it is making it impossible for people to provide the basics for themselves and their families, but it is also continuing to fuel inflation, which, of course, is causing the problem in the first place.

“I want to make sure that the Scottish government, working with energy companies, other stakeholders in Scotland, that we are genuinely doing everything we can at our own hand to help here.”

The first minister said she wanted renationalisation to be kept on the table but warned that the Scottish government did not have the power to do this itself.

“I want us to come together to call on the UK government to take the action only it can take,” she said.

“There is a looming disaster that is already unfolding but it is going to get worse.

“This is going to cause destitution and devastation, this will cause loss of life if real action is not taken to stem this crisis.”

Sturgeon’s intervention echoes that of former prime minister Gordon Brown, who said energy firms that fail to bring prices down should be renationalised by the state.

Under Brown’s plan, the energy price cap would be scrapped and new, lower prices would be negotiated with the companies. Those who are not able to arrange lower prices should be bought into public ownership “as a last resort”.

Chris Philp, the former technology minister who is backing Liz Truss for the Tory leadership, criticised proposals to freeze the price cap as way to ease pressure on struggling households.

“Obviously, there’s nothing for free in life,” he told Times Radio. “And if Labour are planning to freeze the price cap for an extended period that will ultimately have to be paid for probably in the form of higher taxes.”

Asked whether higher taxes on energy firms could fund a potential price cap freeze, Philp replied: “I don’t think it’s wholly going to be funded by energy companies because there isn’t enough efficient profit to do that.

“And of course, we have already introduced a windfall tax that amounts to 5 billion pounds a year on energy companies. That was two and a half times bigger than the windfall tax Labour had proposed a few weeks beforehand.”

He added: “What I think is most important is two things: firstly, to get through this winter, which the emergency budget will make sure we do.

“And secondly, put the country on the right footing in the medium term, which means firstly, lower taxes to promote growth, which I strongly believe in, because growth will ultimately increase wages and produce more tax yields, and to fund public services like health and education.”

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