SCOTLAND’S new First Minister told the Prime Minister that his government will work with its UK counterpart in “good faith” in the first call between the two leaders.
In a statement after John Swinney and Rishi Sunak spoke on Wednesday afternoon, the Scottish Government said the Tory leader had also been told the SNP would aim to “respectfully persuade” people to support independence.
Sunak was further told of “the need” to end UK austerity measures and invest further in public services such as the NHS.
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Outlining the call, a Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The First Minister spoke with the Prime Minister this afternoon and confirmed that the Scottish Government stands ready to work constructively with the UK Government in a good-faith effort to deliver for the people of Scotland and reduce polarisation in politics.
“The First Minister set out his determination to eradicate child poverty and urged the UK Government to work with him towards that goal by changing course on policies such as the two-child benefit cap which are causing misery for many families in Scotland.
“Mr Swinney set out the need for a change in the UK Government’s economic policy and an end to austerity, in order to allow the Scottish economy to reach its full potential, support business, tackle the cost-of-living crisis and to allow for further investment to improve vital public services like the NHS and schools.
“The First Minister made clear that the Scottish Government will continue to respectfully persuade people in Scotland of the case for independence, and that the decision on Scotland’s future should be for the people of Scotland to make.”
Swinney has been looking to reach out to other parties since becoming SNP leader and stating his intention to lead a minority government.
In a speech to Holyrood on Tuesday, he praised the Labour, LibDem, Tory, and Green groups for their work since the Scottish Parliament was reconvened in 1999.
He said: "The Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats should take pride in governing Scotland through the difficult early years of devolution, when much of the debate was about the cost of this building rather than about what we could do with the powers invested in it.
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"The Conservatives, under the leadership of Annabel – now Baroness – Goldie, can look back with great credit on the constructive way they often approached opposition, and they certainly helped me with a budget or two.
"The Scottish Greens have brought a distinctive voice to our politics and became the first Greens to serve in government in the United Kingdom."
Welcoming Swinney’s confirmation as First Minister after MSPs voted on Tuesday, Sunak said in a statement: “I look forward to working constructively with John Swinney, focusing on the real issues that matter to families – delivering jobs, growth and better public services for people across Scotland.”
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