Seòmar agus comataidhean

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on what rules and incentives are central to a wellbeing economy. (S6O-02261)

Given that the member has mentioned exchanging ideas, does she welcome the fact that the US is avowedly low tax, pro-business and pro-nuclear; strongly defends its oil and gas sector; and is undoubtedly a free market that believes in economic growth? Are those the kind of ideas that she would like Scotland to share with the US?

By the sound of it, there will be no meeting. That is consistent, because ministers have repeatedly failed to meet local stakeholders following the closure of residential care beds at the Edington and the withdrawal of minor injuries services.

With access to community treatment and care services restricted in some surgeries, vulnerable older people and young families face long and impractical bus journeys to East Lothian community hospital in Haddington, or all the way into Edinburgh, in order to access simple national health service services, such as having their wounds dressed. Does that not prove that the Scottish National Party has all but failed and has given up on community-based health services in East Lothian and across the south of Scotland?

I apologise for arriving slightly late for the statement.

Despite some concessions today, Lorna Slater is still just kicking the can down the road. Can she explain what compensation she is considering for small hospitality operators who may have already incurred considerable costs and, while climb-downs are the order of the day, will she now do the right thing and exclude small pubs and restaurants altogether?

On 28 February, Lorna Slater said that

“no one with any credibility would delay”

the deposit return scheme. Given that the First Minister has just done that, was she right?

On behalf of the Opposition, I congratulate the First Minister and his new ministerial team. Humza Yousaf has made history, this week, and we offer him our very best wishes.

If the Parliament confirms his Administration today, I say “Good luck” to his new ministers, because judging by his performance at First Minister’s question time they are certainly going to need it.

In particular, I welcome Shona Robison to the role of Deputy First Minister. Our country is now run by a woman who represents Dundee and a man who lives there. I say to the First Minister that it is a long way from Broughty Ferry to Bute house.

I do not know what experience the First Minister has of assembling flat-pack furniture, but I think that even Christine Grahame would have been surprised at just how quickly his Cabinet fell apart the other day. Mr Yousaf said that he wanted to build a Cabinet and a Government “of all the talents”, yet this translates—[Interruption.]. This translates into Kate Forbes leaving the Government while Lorna Slater is welcomed back into his ministerial team.

At the time for division, we will not support the formation of this new Government, which includes a Minister for Independence, who, in a cost of living crisis, will be earning £100,000 a year. [Interruption.] This is a Cabinet and a Government that are cast in Humza Yousaf’s image—failed continuity ministers appointed by a failed continuity First Minister. [Interruption.]

Mr Benn emerged as a zoo keeper, a pirate and, of course, a clown.

As the First Minister assembled his new Government, there was soul searching among some longer-serving SNP MSPs—the dispossessed and the never possessed, including Emma Harper, Willie Coffey, Colin Beattie, Stuart McMillan, James Dornan, John Mason and, of course, Kenny Gibson. They were all scratching their heads and asking how someone with such obvious limitations had reached the highest office in the land, especially when they have failed to reach the first rung on the ministerial ladder. Sadly, there is no room in the First Minister’s Government for his leadership rival, Ash Regan, who has been snubbed and is, no doubt, reconsidering where she would like to stick her independence thermometer.

Looking to the back benches, I note the absence of the former First Minister. She will, however, be a very powerful back-seat driver. I remind the First Minister that Nicola Sturgeon is taking driving lessons, so I hope that he does not get too comfortable behind the wheel. I hope that when she passes her test—as, I am sure, she will—the First Minister will be the first to offer his congratulations, and to remind her of the importance of car insurance.

Scotland’s new First Minister cannot simply airbrush away the criticisms that have been levelled by his colleagues. Kate Forbes was correct that “Continuity won’t cut it”, but it is continuity that runs through the core of his Cabinet. The only substantive change is in relation to national health service recovery, which is a frank admission of the failure of the previous holder of that office.

To govern is to choose. Humza—[Interruption.].

Members: It is “Humza”, not “Hoomza”!

Humza Yousaf wants to be the first activist. [Interruption.]

He wants to be the first activist. [Interruption.]

At the same time, he wants to be the First Minister for all of Scotland, but he cannot be both. He has to be one or the other. We all know that tough choices will have to be made by his Government, but I fear that this SNP-Green coalition is no more than more of the same—the same misplaced priorities and the same failed ministers.

Although, for the sake of the country, we wish this Government well, we will not vote for it today.