It was a real pleasure this week to be in Aberdeen at the weekend for the SNP’s annual party conference, our first in-person conference since 2019.

It was great to see many faces old and new, but most importantly, to have the opportunity for an open and frank discussion about the cost-of-living crisis, the responsibility of me and my government to help people through it, and, of course, the democratic future of Scotland.  

That future is more uncertain than ever under the chaotic Tory Government at Westminster who have, within a matter of weeks, introduced policies which have sent the pound plummeting to record levels, brought the pension market to the brink of collapse, and caused mayhem in the markets with the reckless decision to borrow billions of pounds to fund tax cuts for the richest.

The truth is that massive hand-outs for the wealthiest at the expense of everyone else do absolutely nothing for the economy. Instead, those Westminster policies turbo-charge inequality and force people into poverty.

In contrast, the Scottish Government I lead will continue to use our powers and resources to help those most in need, in our collective interest.

Already in Scotland we have used our powers to introduce a brand-new social security system based on fairness, dignity and respect. It has meant that we can introduce help and support to those of the lowest incomes, like the Scottish Child Payment.

That payment started for under-sixes at £10 per week per eligible child. In April, we doubled it to £20. In less than five weeks, we will increase it again to £25 per week and extend it to families with children up to age 16.

And, as we announced on Monday, the Scottish Government will also double the December Bridging Payment - which was introduced in 2021 ahead of the extension of the Scottish Child Payment - from £130 to £260.

Families of an estimated 145,000 children will benefit from this extra support over winter to help with cost of living pressures - backed by Scottish Government investment of almost £20m.

This is just one example of the real difference we can make with the limited powers of the Scottish Parliament, but we want to go even further with the full powers of independence at our disposal.

Over the weekend, the SNP set out our vision for a better future for Scotland, one in which we can renew our relationship with the other nations of the United Kingdom and protect the partnership on which it was founded - a voluntary partnership of nations.

England, Scotland, Wales, and the island of Ireland will always be the closest of friends. But we can achieve a better relationship - a true partnership of equals - when we win Scotland’s independence.

Evidence from across the world show that independence is normal, and that independence works for a number of European nations of a similar size, and with similar economies, to Scotland.

Many of these countries are flourishing, and outperforming the UK in a number of measures. They are wealthier, more equal and more productive. They also have lower poverty rates, lower child poverty and lower pensioner poverty.

Nations such as Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden are amongst the most successful societies the world has known. And it is their success - not a failing UK economy - that Scotland should aim to match.

One week today we will publish the next in our Building a New Scotland series of papers, which will make the economic case for independence and set out how we can build a new, sustainable economy based, partly, on Scotland’s immense renewable energy potential.

It will show how in an independent Scotland, we can deliver lower energy prices and stronger security of supply, secure fair work, and end age discrimination for those on the minimum wage. 

We will show how businesses can benefit from independence. With EU membership they’ll be back inside the world’s biggest single market. With a fairer migration policy and European freedom of movement restored, they will have access to talented and committed workers from Europe and across the world. And they will have new opportunities to influence government policy through a social partnership approach.

In short, with independence, we will show how we can break with the low productivity, high inequality UK economy and use the full powers of independence to build an inclusive, fair, wellbeing economy which works for everyone.

Although it was great to be back in Aberdeen for a few days for the SNP conference, closer to home in Glasgow, I was delighted to see that a neighbourhood in my own constituency has been voted “one of the coolest in the world” by Time Out magazine.

The list, which also includes areas in Lisbon, Guadalajara and London, highlighted Shawlands for its multicultural community and food and nightlife spots. Congratulations!