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Nicola Sturgeon admits some blame for political hostility in first speech as backbencher
Former first minister says her perspective changed after she left ‘the trenches of the political front line’
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Nicola Sturgeon has admitted she is partly responsible for the hostile political debate between Scottish Unionists and nationalists in her first Holyrood speech since stepping down as first minister and her arrest.
Ms Sturgeon, who was last year accused of using “really dangerous” language after stating she “detests” Tories, said her perspective had changed after she left “the trenches of the political front line”.
The former SNP leader argued that the “acrimony” had helped create a “paralysis of action” on Scotland’s main political challenges.
Instead, she called for “civility and respect” in political debate, arguing this would lead to “creative tension” between the two sides that could improve public policy and outcomes.
But she then raised independence, the issue that is most politically divisive in Scotland, arguing that Unionists should support “incremental support of our powers” until full separation can be achieved.
To widespread laughter, Annabelle Ewing, the deputy presiding officer, accidentally referred to her as first minister.
SNP popularity down since Sturgeon departure
Ms Sturgeon’s speech of nearly eight minutes was her first in the Holyrood chamber since her final First Minister’s Questions on March 23.
Police investigating the SNP’s finances searched her home for two days in April and she was arrested in June. She was released by detectives pending further investigations and has insisted she is innocent of any wrongdoing.
The SNP’s popularity has declined markedly since her resignation, with another new poll showing the party neck and neck with Labour for Westminster, on 35 per cent each.
The Redfield & Wilton Strategies survey, conducted between September 2 and 4, also found support for independence had declined by a point since August to 44 per cent. Opposition increased by a point to 49 per cent, with the remainder undecided.
Ms Sturgeon’s first Holyrood speech from the back benches came in a debate on her successor Humza Yousaf’s first programme for government, which was unveiled on Tuesday.
Although she admitted to not being objective, Ms Sturgeon told MSPs “I enthusiastically commend it” and argued that it “strikes a good balance between building on progress and breaking new ground”.
But she said she wanted to conclude her speech by addressing “not so much on what we do here but on how we do it”.
‘Polarisation in politics is much maligned’
“Before I do, let me say that I accept my share of responsibility for the state of our political discourse. But if anything that makes me more determined to play a part in trying to change it,” she said.
“Polarisation in politics is much maligned. It is the paralysis of action it results in that should worry us most.”
Outlining “some principles to guide us”, she argued that tough decisions were required on issues such as tackling climate change and inequality.
The former first minister said that those “who benefit from the status quo” should not be ignored but neither should they have “an automatic veto on change that is necessary”.
Appealing to Unionists to back more powers for Holyrood, she said there must be “an acceptance that we can’t just wish for the ends on any policy change, we must also have the means to deliver”.
She added that “disagreement is the essence of democracy” but argued that the manner in which it was conducted could either create “acrimony and stalemate” or creative tension “that allows us to drive improvement for all”.
“I hope the coming term is characterised more by the latter than the former. If so, Scotland will be the winner,” she concluded.