SNP candidates make promises to the people of the Highlands
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The three candidates vying to become the next First Minister made a range of promises.
At the culmination of last night's SNP leadership debate hosted by the Inverness Courier Humza Yousaf, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan were given a minute each to share their promise for what they would do for the people of the Highlands if elected SNP leader and First Minister.
Ash Regan: "I will give a strong commitment that if you vote for me to become party leader and First Minister I will take to heart the priorities of the people of Scotland and I will spend all my time in government working very hard to deliver on our public services, because I think that is what people expect, and to spend as much time working out how we invest across the country for infrastrucure."
She added: "I want us to be trusted by the public to deliver public services, to govern wisely, because I think that trust will lead on to the people of Scotland deciding to become an independent country.
"I am the only candidate, I believe, with a credible plan to get to independence. I have a plan for what happens if Westminster says no.
"The reason I want to become independent sooner rather than later is because I am seeing inflicted on Scotland, and in the Highlands, the economic carnage that is being created by Westminster.
"In my opinion the faster we get out of this union the better to make a fairer and better country for all of us."
Humza Yousaf said he hoped "eradication of poverty" would be central for whoever becomes next First Minister.
"Poverty is the common thread of every inequality," he said. "We see health inequality, education inequality.
"Continuing a progressive agenda, using progressive taxation to invest in public services to eradicate poverty, is going to be my number one priority.
"I want to see that investment in the Highlands talked about – poverty reduction, housing and infrastructure – and talking about the issues that matter."
Kate Forbes promised to reach out to those unpersuaded by the SNP's ration d'etre of independence.
She also spoke of keeping promises and picking priorities, acknowledging that "we can't do everything".
She said: "My three commitments in all of this is to make sure we deliver for all of Scotland. To never forget any parts of Scotland, to ensure that we truly are a Scottish national party – that national means that we represent all parts of the nation when it comes to all of our policies.
"Secondly that we will keep out promises. That when we say when we are going to do something we absolutely get a plan in place to deliver it.We can't do everything. We pick our priorities. We put them in the manifesto and then we absolutely deliver them and back them with funding.
"And the third thing, which is particularly close to my heart, is that I will be a leader who reaches out, that tries to restore a bit more respect and goodwill in our public discourse to ensure that if we do, as I do want, to secure independence – and that is the SNP's raison d'etre – that we ensure that we reach out for example to those who are not yet persuaded, to no voters, to respect why they aren't persuaded yet and persuade them."
You can watch the full debate here
