First Minister says 'London has had its turn'

At the SNP annual conference in Inverness this week, First Minister Alex Salmond told delegates the days of “Westminster politicians telling Scotland what to do or what to think” were over, and claimed the Scottish people were now “in the driving seat."

Mr Salmond used his speech to reiterate what he believes is the UK Government’s lack of mandate to govern Scottish affairs and to set out a “Nae Limits” agenda for Scotland’s wealth of energy resources. Following a recent BP announcement that current North Sea oil findings are to last until 2050, Mr Salmond told the conference that “London has had its turn."

Mr Salmond stated: “After 40 years of oil and gas Westminster had coined in some £300 billion from Scottish water – around £60,000 for every man women and child in the country.

“The Tories’ own Office of Budget Responsibility figures suggest another £230 billion of oil revenues over the next 30 years - and that was before the latest announcements.

“Let the next 40 years be for the people of Scotland.”

The First Minister also set out the SNP’s commitment to tackle youth unemployment and announced an annual 25,000 modern apprenticeships in addition to offering every 16-19 year old a training opportunity.

Convener of the Federation of Student Nationalists, Gail Lythgoe, told The Journal: “Most young Scots have never known anything but devolution in Scotland and understand that independence is a means to an end - to a fairer, more just, more equal society. We - the independence generation - are ready to deliver for Scotland. We owe it to the people who have gone before us, those today who are struggling in an unequal society and we owe it to the future generation of young Scots.”

The Scottish independence referendum is expected to be held during the second half of the SNP’s term in government.