Politicians From Scotland

"We unite behind a declaration of self-evident truth. The people who live in Scotland are best placed to make the decisions that affect Scotland. We want a Scotland that's greener, that's fairer and more prosperous. We realise that the power of an independent Scotland is necessary to achieve these great ends...By the time we enter the referendum campaign in autumn 2014, our intention is to have one million Scots who have signed the independence for Scotland declaration. Friends, if we achieve that, then we shall win an independent Scotland."

"As you sowed, so Scotland reaped."

"Those are the objectives - competence, consensus and vision - against which we should be judged. Of course that judgement could come earlier if the opposition parties wished to force an election!"

"Let no-one mistake. This Church, and other faith groups, have the ability to be agents for change and change for the better. ... You have worked to promote understanding among faiths. To tackle sectarianism. To promote development worldwide. ... And let me say that for our Parliament, that is something that may not yet be formally our responsibility. But it is, in reality, our obligation. ... In ancient times it was said that had no city walls. It did not need them, the people were the walls of Sparta. This church and our other institutions - spiritual and secular are the walls of Scotland - the rocks on which reform and renewal will be built. ... We will continue to draw on this Church as a source of wisdom. A source of strength. A source of hope."

"I wouldn't dream of intruding into a reserved matter."

"Without the church there would be no Scotland - and something important, precious and distinctive would have been lost to the world."

"Any house built on sand - big or small - will not survive the storm."

"If we are to compete as a nation in the global economy, we need to upskill Scotland. That means more Scots in the workforce with higher vocational skills - and it means many more with graduate skills too."

"The of 1320 ... was a challenge not just to the ambitions of our neighbour but too many of the accepted views of that time. As a statement of the 'community of the realm', the Declaration of Arbroath may be Europe's first statement of a contractual relationship between government and citizens."

"There is nothing wrong with Scotland that cannot be fixed by what is right with Scotland."

"I would welcome a Westminster election next month - just as long as it is not organised by the under !"

"Like many servicemen, my father never spoke too much about the war when I was growing up. However we all are proud of him as are all families of those who served."

"A strong economy and strong culture go hand in hand."

"I will not give you an elegy - words to stir your hearts as our beloved Gaelic slowly fades away. And I will not be prescribing palliative care."

"I want to see Gaelic thrive across the whole of Scotland."

"I want to see Scotland at the heart of Europe's energy policy and future."

"It's not to pretend you can do everything, but if people like you – in the sense of admiring or having respect for what you are trying to do – then they will understand the odd blemish. If people don't like you, and lack confidence in what you are trying to do, they won't forgive you anything."

"No Member State, even the most passionately pro-European, is always fully in agreement with all the policies of the EU. And all make their voice heard on the issues that affect them most. This is how Europe should work. It is how an independent Scotland would act."

"It would be much easier if we had the full powers of an independent country. Therefore I was anticipating being in that position by 2017."

"We have pushed hard to ensure that the UK negotiating line takes full account of Scotland's circumstances - and we will continue to do so. But we have no guarantee of success. Nor can we be sure that Scottish interests will not fall victim to trade-offs that the UK Government has to make at the Brussels negotiating table. Independence would remove that uncertainty at a stroke."

"Is not because I am a poor sailor and fear the voyage to ."

"There has always been - and always will be - interdependence between the economic prospects of Scotland's Gaelic speaking population and the strength of our Gaelic culture. The language will thrive only once there are real economic opportunities for Gaelic speakers."

"We must remove, not erect, barriers to degree level education."

"I believe that all of us - whether native Scots or our friends abroad - should strive for a shared understand of our heritage and origins."

"Scotland's long-term prosperity does not depend solely - or even predominantly - on oil and gas. It will also be based on our success in the other industries of the future - sectors such as renewable energy and the life sciences, where we are already a major European player."

"Government must always be about vision. Restoring belief in the power of democratically elected Government to effect change - something which remains one of the great challenges for any modern Government - is about focusing on the 'possible' rather than merely accepting the status quo."

"Gaelic is not a regional language - it is a truly nationwide language. And the future success of Gaelic depends on attracting new speakers to the language here as much as its does on fostering Gaelic in its traditional heartland."

"Am I miffed now? No! It's the best thing that could have happened. We were saved! We were saved!"

"We're a country with a balance of opinion. We are not a divided country. but we're debating independence in an entirely peaceful fashion."

"Dealing with the Liberals, it was like trying to grab quicksilver."

"Not only would an independent Scotland within Europe be at ease with ourselves and our partners at the table. We would be naturally suited to the aims and values of Europe itself - and with the responsibilities of being modern, compassionate, global Europeans."

"Come on, this is big stuff. These are all tackling underlying issues – it's not just a question of striking and announcements."

"Ten years ago, alongside the return of the , I was arguing strongly for the return of the to Scotland. Sadly this campaign is as yet incomplete. Of the ninety-three pieces known to us today, the holds only eleven. The other eighty-two remain in the in London. I still find it utterly unacceptable that the Lewis chessmen are scattered around Britain in a bizarre parody of the . And you can be assured that I will continue campaigning for a united set of Lewis chessmen in an independent Scotland!"

"That sense of an inclusive Scottishness - one which does not simply tolerate diversity but rather celebrates it - is at the heart of what I want St Andrews Day to become."

"Modern Scotland is about continuing that traditional welcome for those of all faiths or none, of including those from every part of the world and of every belief in our social mix. That diversity is our strength. That ability to welcome and to accommodate those from other nations and to develop an elastic sense of what it is to be 'Scottish' makes us bigger and better as a nation."

"Membership of a supranational economic trading organisation like the EC is the antithesis of 'separation', the meaningless insult directed at the SNP by unionist parties. Membership involves obligations which cede national sovereignty for mutual benefit. Co-operation with our European partners in the functional areas--economic, trading, technical and social policies--offers an independent Scotland the chance to play a reforming part in creating a Europe of equal nations. The EC is by no means perfect and the idea of a centralised European super-state is anathema. Our view of Europe is confederal--each state proud of its national identity but willing to work and co-operate in a powerful partnership...Every member of the SNP signs a commitment to internationalism when they receive their membership card. Our progressive nationalism goes hand-in-hand with a commitment to internationalism."

"The Scots were thus truly a chosen people, highly favoured of the Lord!"

"The SNP's commitment to a Bill of Rights and written constitution means that we will outlaw any discrimination but we also have to eradicate it from the dark recesses of the Scottish psyche. We also have to speak out against institutionalised discrimination. For example, it is a scandal of some considerable proportions that no Catholic can sit on the throne, or marry the heir to the throne -- an attitude entrenched in law that belongs to the archaic arrangements of the eighteenth century, not the bright prospects of the twenty-first."

"We celebrate the values which define modern Scotland: the values of humanity, compassion, enterprise, ambition, and a determined internationalism."

"It is not the purpose of Government to legislate - rather it is for Government and Parliament to legislate with a purpose."

"To win and retain the trust of the people requires an administration willing to focus on showing competence and direction in the day to day business of government."

"She is the living memorial as to why Scots want their own parliament."

"We Scots are proud Europeans. By history Scotland is - and by our ambition Scotland will remain - a European nation, a full member of the European Union. This is the starting point of our engagement with Europe. We will always play our full part and work to advance common European interests."

"Such are the joys of national leadership!"

"I believe it is through independence that we can do most to help our nation to flourish, to improve our quality of life."

"Whatever our constitutional arrangements and no matter how well off we are, there will always be a need for Scotland's citizens to talk about their problems. Therefore, we will always need independent, reliable and accurate advice to help guide them at certain points in their lives."

"Politicians often like to believe that we exist to make law - and that only through constantly changing the law we achieve our policy objectives. That view of political leadership is mistaken."

"We must tackle the causes of personal debt, and not just the consequences."

"The people of Scotland want a Government based on principle but able to move with mainstream opinion to build consensus in the public interest."

"There is not an anti-English bone in my body. I have forgotten more about English history than most Tory MPs ever learnt."