Stephen flynn’s address to conference #snp24 — scottish national party

If you’ll allow I wish to begin my remarks with a personal congratulations. Just yesterday my Dad, the best man I will ever meet, became the leader of Dundee City Council. After a long and

distinguished career as a toolmaker… Forgive me, after a long and continuing career as an engineer, he has taken the important responsibility of ensuring that a Dundee United fan remains in

charge of Scotland’s fourth city – maintaining that particular natural order. Now my wife who will hopefully be watching this from home, will currently be rolling her eyes that I’m once

again talking about football. It may have been spoken about once or twice in my house over summer thanks to the Euros. As a proud European I believe I backed 8 teams in total, even picking

the winner. But friends, I am afraid that is where success this summer mostly begins and ends. Because there can be no hiding from the fact that I stand here today as the leader of a much

smaller Westminster group. 8 short weeks ago we lost 15% of our 2019 vote share, we lost dozens of good colleagues, and we lost the election. In this room, we all know – and we all

understand – that hiding from that harsh reality will fix nothing. Our job is to face up to that result and accept the true depth of our defeat. Because the right response never lies in easy

excuses – the only right response is rooted in reflection and responsibility. Because the brutal honesty of democracy means that we need to be brutally honest with ourselves. It wasn’t our

political opponents, and it wasn’t the media, who sent us a stark message at the general election. It was the people we serve. It was the Scottish people who sent us that message – it came

directly from the communities we all grew up in – the communities and the people we are part of. And when the Scottish people – the very same people who have previously placed their trust in

us – send us a democratic message, the only right response is to listen, and then act. And those actions must involve change. The change of knowing that we must re-root ourselves in the

priorities of Scottish people – the priorities they are telling us we have moved away from. The change of knowing that the standards the public expect from their politicians are as high as

they have ever been. The change of knowing that when you say you are going to do something, you deliver it. In committing to that change, let me be very clear about something else too. In a

team you don’t point fingers, you accept that the mistakes of others are yours too. That’s what we all signed up to when we joined this political party. Just as recent results are our

collective burden to bear, so too is it now our collective challenge to mend the trust that we have lost with the Scottish people. And collective change will only ever come from the

individual actions we all now decide to take. It was once famously written that – “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” I think there is probably a

fair degree of truth in that. But that is exactly the challenge and the change we all now face. Embracing the humility and honesty of defeat in order to renew our relationship with the

Scottish people. Showing that we can speak again to their aspirations and that we have the competence to deliver for them and their families. Reimagining our offer and re-earning the right

to represent them. And yes – still being honest with all our people that we firmly believe that independence remains the road to a better future. That is the path to recovery for this party

but – more importantly – it is the path to delivering for the people we serve. And friends let’s remind ourselves that whilst the sea has flowed back, our tide mark remains. And collectively

the SNP will not just rise to that mark again, but together we will surpass it – and that is the hope that must lead us forward together. But Conference, For those many colleagues who lost

their seats at the general election, I do want to take the chance to say this. The result was no reflection on their individual work – it was a consequence of circumstances beyond their

control. On opposing austerity economics, in being the first to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, on calling out the madness of Brexit, in rejecting the racist race to the bottom on migration

policy, stopping Boris’ illegal lockdown of parliament, on standing up for the Waspi women and on fighting for Scotland’s democratic right to choose our own future – – our colleagues did

this party proud. In the often hostile environment of Westminster – they were Scotland’s voice and they were a voice to be reckoned with. They worked with the knowledge that their commitment

is to a cause which is bigger than every single one of us. And that’s why their commitment to this party and movement is far from finished. But friends, it is also worth remembering that

every election has a silver lining. Up in whisky country, service is now being delivered by Graeme Leadbitter. Whilst a little along the coast Seamus Logan was a wee bit concerned that

Douglas Ross still had one too many work commitments. And in fairness it’s worth saying, that the only people happier than Seamus and his team that night – were Douglas Ross’ own colleagues.

Friends, The relief of getting rid of the Tories has been rapidly replaced with the reality of a new Labour Government. And for a moment, let’s give credit where it is due – there is no

denying that Labour ran a very effective political campaign. Campaign slogans can be powerful things. ‘Change’ was a powerful, simple and winning slogan. But for many people in Scotland and

beyond it was much more than just a word – it was a promise. The promise of totally transforming the way in which politics works after 14 long years of the Tories. And it’s that promise

which is already being pulled apart. Because only 8 weeks on, that hopeful promise of turning the page on the Tories has been replaced with the new Labour promise of a painful politics this

autumn. We’ve already seen the preview. Keeping the two-child cap, cutting the winter fuel payment, energy bills heading up 10% and laying the ground for a new era of austerity. And the

Prime Minister is all too eager to assure us that the worst is yet to come. You will all know that one of the oldest saying in politics is that you campaign in poetry and govern in prose.

Labour has gone one step further – campaign in poetry and govern painfully. From the poetic promise of change to things can only get worse. Taking a hammer to public services seems apt for a

toolmaker’s son. In fairness to the new Government, politics is about choices. And all too often those choices are tough. The Tories did trash the economy, they did leave a shocking

inheritance. All of that is true. In fact, I think I even remember John Swinney saying that once or twice during the election campaign – or maybe I wasn’t reading his lips properly. But the

serious point is this. If politics is about choices – then there is a fundamental choice that all parties face during every election. And this summer the public witnessed Labour’s choice.

Deliberately choosing to say one thing to the public when asking for their votes. And cynically choosing to say the exact opposite just weeks after it. And this Labour Government will now

have to live with the choice they made. They deserve to be reminded of that choice every single day and that’s exactly what SNP MPs will do. And conference, I don’t think I’m the only one

thinking that the early political positioning of this new Labour government all sounds vaguely familiar. For instance, listen to this. “This Budget is needed to deal with our country’s

debts. This Budget is needed to give confidence to our economy. This is the unavoidable Budget. I am not going to hide hard choices from the British people or bury them in the small print of

the Budget documents. You’re going to hear them straight from me, here in this speech.” You would be easily forgiven for believing that those words had come from Rachel Reeves in the last

few weeks. But they aren’t. They are actually the words of George Osborne – 14 years ago. The Westminster roundabout have turned full circle – the same political lines and the same political

choice to impose austerity. Rachel Reeves and George Osborne – the architect and the apprentice of austerity. And friends, As this new era of austerity has been announced in Westminster –

what else has been put on offer for Scotland. A Secretary of State who siphons off £150 million into the Scotland Office, whilst his Chancellor picks £160 million from the pockets of our

pensioners by cutting the winter fuel payment. In this very city – the new Labour Government has cut nearly a billion pounds from an AI project in Edinburgh University. And, of course, we’ve

got the establishment of GB Energy. Friends, that’s a move we’ve all seen before is it not. Westminster casting its gaze North to Scotland’s resources, with pound signs in their eyes. Well

let’s remind them here and now that whilst they may brand it GB energy, we all know that it’s Scotland’s Energy! And while all of this has been going on – what of Labour’s man in Scotland. I

seem to remember very carefully placed media articles promising that Anas Sarwar would be the first man to stand up to Keir Starmer and his government if he disagreed with their decisions.

We were promised that he would be the hard man of Scottish politics and wouldn’t be found wanting in standing up for Scotland. Turns out he’s less hard man, and more hard man to find.

Because he’s tucked away trying to think of the latest excuse to justify the shifting sands coming from his bosses in London. And conference, When it comes to Anas and his arguments – it’s

time to put one thing to bed. If you are a unionist, if you believe that economic policy should be primarily set in London – please stop this nonsense that the economic and budgetary

position in Scotland is somehow nothing to do with Westminster. You can’t on one hand boast about the so-called broad shoulders of the union whilst at the very same time wash the other hand

of any responsibility for the financial decisions that same union imposes. The seriousness of the situation we face demands better. The Scottish people will not be treated as fools. Friends,

The mood music set by the new Labour government are a warning that difficult days lie ahead for Scotland. And those difficult days will demand experienced and principled leadership. The new

Prime Minister rightly talks about politics returning to the service of people. And its absence in Westminster has been without doubt. But the world does not begin and end inside the walls

of Westminster- there have been politicians on these islands who have always held true to the trust of genuine public service. Because all who know him, know that John Swinney is the living

embodiment of a politics of service. All his adult life has been dedicated to the purpose of this party alongside a clear-eyed commitment to this country and its future. There is no man I’d

trust more to take us through these turbulent times. As someone said once – this is no time for a novice. We are lucky to have him, and Scotland is all the better that he is leading us once

more. And friends, The patient and purposeful leadership of our First Minister should also inform our primary belief in independence. Because it’s that patience and purpose that will

complete the last hard yards of realising that future. We should be honest that it has never been and never will be a seamless path to self-determination and independence – and at times over

the last few years we should admit that we were sometimes guilty of giving that impression. I understand why that happened. Sometimes the non-stop nature of modern politics fed the strategy

of one last push. But the intense immediacy of that narrative doesn’t serve the need for patient persuasion of those who still need to be convinced. And it does something else too. It

distracts us from the bigger trends and the broader sweep of history. Because in truth, real and lasting patterns in politics aren’t shaped and defined by any one day or by any one election.

And when we step back for a moment – when we pause – the bigger pattern and bigger picture of Scottish politics comes into far clearer view. And it shows that amongst the massive electoral

swings in Scotland since the first independence referendum 10 years ago – there remains an underlying stability in Scottish politics. Neither of us, nationalists nor unionists, have been

successful yet in convincing the public of the overwhelming case for either independence or for the United Kingdom. Some present that as a negative – of the argument being stuck. But in

reality, I think it reflects a deep faith in Scottish democracy – the wisdom of a population who will decide our democratic future when they – and no one else – deems the time to be right.

And in that context, we must always be willing to reach beyond our own comfort zones, beyond our own boundaries, to listen to and engage with those who do not yet share our vision. After

all, we must never lose sight of the fact that just as it is our Scotland, it is their Scotland too – and building a nation fit for the future is a responsibility that all of us must share.

And conference, When we consider that bigger picture, we should always take heart and hope from the fact that half the Scottish people still believe that independence remains the most

desirable destination for Scotland’s future. That remains an unprecedented opportunity and would have been almost unthinkable for all those who have served this party and this cause since

our foundation. Because in the ongoing argument between the Westminster status quo or a new Scotland – we still hold trust and faith that the strength of our arguments will win the future.

No matter how many speeches the new Prime Minister makes, the fundamentals won’t change. There is no fixing the foundations of broken Britain with a Westminster migration policy that ignores

its economic benefits and demonises some of the most vulnerable people on our planet. There is no fixing the foundations of broken Britain when the first policy that goes in the Westminster

political bin is real investment in green energy to drive green growth. And there is definitely no fixing the foundations of broken Britain if you won’t even mention – never mind deal with

– the ultimate black hole that is Brexit. But friends, The failures of Brexit Britain alone can’t be our sole argument and it shouldn’t be our primary motivation. Because at times too, we

have been guilty of straying from an optimistic, aspirational vision. Instead of resting and relying on the failure of the British state, the real motivation of our message must be the

potential and possibility that Scotland is so rich in. We can’t get stuck in a cycle of constantly lowering expectations instead of raising hopes. Our argument, our belief and our offer to

the Scottish people is that Brexit Britain is not as good as it gets. We believe that decisions made in Scotland, for Scotland can deliver a better future for all. That becoming a normal

independent country in Europe can meet our people’s needs and their aspirations. That it can deliver the basic belief that the next generation can and should aspire to a higher standard of

living and a better quality of life than that which has gone before. Those are simple things, but they are the most important of all. And that is a hopeful horizon we can offer and that we

can argue for. And it’s that hope, optimism and aspiration that must guide our response to the challenges we face. That’s the path to recovery, it’s the root to real change and it offers the

best road to independence. Thank you.