AMani

fes
tof
orSc
otl
and

SHAKETHI
Mor
eoft
NGSUP
hes
amewon'
tcuti
t–Sc
otl
andneedsI
ndependenc
eandr
adi
calc
hange
 “
AVISI
ONOF
THESCOTLAND
WESEEK”
 SHAKE THINGS UP
More of the same won't cut it
and radical change.
Foreword
ALBA is a new political party. Not yet one month old.
ALBA was established to bring urgency into the time­
table for delivering independence for Scotland, by
maximising the list vote to build a pro-independence
supermajority at Holyrood and to use our place as part
of that supermajority to make absolutely sure there is
no more backsliding on timetables.
And we will do that every day we are in Parliament -
pressing a pro-independence Scottish Government to
get a move on and holding it to account if it doesn't.
But that does not mean we are a single-issue party.
Over 5,ooo people have now joined ALBA because they
want to see something new in Holyrood - more cour­
age, less caution.
ALBA offers a strategy for independence, an economic
recovery programme and a re-presentation of the
case for independence in the modern world.
In this first ALBA manifesto, ALBA offers a vision of
the Scotland we seek - a Scotland where all citizens
are equal before the law and the written Constitution,
and where the search for equality is reconciled with
hard won women's sex-based rights.
The programme is social democratic, promoting pros­
perity with social equality and environmental respon­
sibility.
In our short life we have already held three policy
conferences and commissioned a raft of policy papers
and presentations from esteemed figures like Profes­
sor Sir Harry Burns (President BMA and Former Chief
- Scotland needs independence
Medical Officer for Scotland), Professor Lindsay
Paterson (Professor of Education Policy at the Uni­
versity of Edinburgh), Rhona Hotchkiss (Former
Governor of Corton Vale), George Kerevan (Econo­
mist and Former SNP MP), Dr Nighet Riaz (Re­
searcher and Educator at University of West of
Scotland), Gareth Wardell (writer, producer and
first artistic director of the Scottish Youth Theatre)
Jim Sillars (Former SNP Depute Leader), Professor'
Alf Baird (Former Professor of Maritime Business at
Edinburgh Napier University), Alex Neil MSP and
many more. In several cases these contributors
have offered their expertise on an independent
basis.
We have taken the discussions at our policy confer­
ences and the ideas put forward in these papers,
and built this manifesto for the 2021 Holyrood
Election from them. It presents a picture of an am­
bitious and radical Scotland that doesn't just set
targets, but takes real steps forward on poverty, on
the difficulties faced by our Scottish business base
and the need to take real action on the climate
emergency.
We make no claim that it is all encompassing - but
it is bursting with fresh ideas and illustrates the
Scotland we seek.
We believe it contains the most ambitious and pro­
found economic recovery agenda revealed by a po­
litical party in Scotland so far, and it certainly rep­
resents the strongest commitment to women's
rights.
And without doubt, it is the one manifesto which is
taking Scottish independence seriously with a
proper plan on how to deliver independence for
Scotland through a referendum (or another agreed
democratic test), ready to fight that referendum,
but also how to be properly prepared to build the
Scotland its people deserve, when we win such a
referendum.
We are not standing to become a government - we
are standing be in a position to push a government
further than it would otherwise go. With this mani­
festo everyone can see the direction in which we
hope to urge Scotland as we shake things up over
the next five years.
Alex Salmond
21st April 2021
 SHAKE THINGS UP
Introduction
Introduction
History will look back at the years 2021 to 2026 as among the most significant of the
21st century. They are the years when fundamental change will begin - or when it
won't. This is not one of those times when 'a bit more of the same' has any chance of
being enough.
'A bit more' will not be enough to face
up to the economic challenges before
us as the pandemic begins to become
manageable and gradually ends. 'A bit
more' will look pitiful in the face of the
enormous and life-threatening chal­
lenges of climate change. 'A bit more'
is not going to make any greater dif­
ference to economic inequality and the
horror of poverty than 'a bit less' did up
until now. 'A bit more' is not going to
reverse the threats to our public ser­
vices. Every single person the length
and breadth of Scotland who, at some
point or another throughout this Covid
crisis, has said to themselves 'after­
wards, things must be different' will
not get what they are asking for be­
cause of 'a bit more of the same'.
The first decade of Scottish devolution
was a time of comparative stability in
Scotland. It even may have made us a
little complacent. The second decade,
scarred by the austerity of the Cameron
and Osborne years, broke our compla­
cency and led to a historic indepen -
dence referendum. While Scotland
didn't quite feel ready to take that step,
it was then further rocked by Brexit.
But across the era of Scottish devolu­
tion we have been, in truth, too timid
not too radical. The gap between what
Scotland says it wants to be and what
Scotland has done to make it happen,
has just been too big. It does not mean
we haven't achieved good things - we
certainly have. But there just haven't
been enough 'good things' and they've
just not been big enough.
Timidity is no longer an option. Scot­
land needs to shake itself up, to shed its
caution and start to face up to what is
ahead. And if we do face up to it then it
will take very little time to realise that,
well, we're just not powerful enough to
do all of what needs done. Yes, we could
have done more to use the powers of
devolution - but even if we now ex­
haust them to the greatest possible
extent, it will not be enough. The chal­
lenges are just too big.
So should we leave it to London? Well,
the UK Government has already made
clear that what is ahead may not be
called 'austerity', but in many ways it
looks very much like it. And this time
the crises are just so much bigger. To
say, 'Keep our heads down and let Boris
Johnson lead us forward', will make as
much sense to many as to say, 'Thank
goodness it was Margaret Thatcher
who led Scotland forward through the
deindustrialisation of the 1980s'. If
madness is doing the same thing again
and expecting a different result, then
surely 'leave it to London' is madness.
Does this mean there is an excuse not to
be more courageous in how we use the
powers of the Scottish Parliament? No,
it does not. We must be more coura­
geous. But does that mean we should
just get on and make do? No, it does
not. So is this a choice, an either/or? Of
course not. Scotland is perfectly capable
of both getting on with what it can do,
and fighting to change what it can't do,
all at the same time.
That is what ALBA is about. We're a
new political party which thinks Holy­
rood has become just a bit too cosy; a bit
too comfortable. We want to shake it up;
to rattle a few cages. We want to push
for bolder, more courageous poli­
cy-making at Holyrood.
But above all we want to ensure that by
standing in this devolved Scottish Elec­
tion we make it the last one ever. That
the next time voters in Scotland go to
the polls to elect people to come to
Holyrood and serve our nation, they do
so in an independent country. And we
want to make sure that the warm words
and good intentions of the Scottish Na­
tional Party and the Scottish Greens,
both parties we respect and admire, do
not slowly turn into the sound of cans
being kicked further down the road.
Scotland needs a bit of gallus for
what comes next. ALBA is here to
bring that confidence.
DELIVERI
NG
INDEPENDENCE
FOR
SCOTLAND
Del
iv
eri
ngI
ndependenc
e
Noeconomicrecoverywithouteconomicpower
NoGreenNewDeal wit
houtfinancial
power
Noendtopovertywithoutwelfarepowers
Noi
nvestmentwithouttaxati
onpower s
Throughout,theScottis
hGover nments houldworkwithawidecan-
vassofpartnerstoconstantlyincreaset hepres
sureonLondontocon-
cedethattheSc ott
ishpeoplear es overeign,
thosepeopl
ehaveelect
ed
agovernmentt odeliver,anditisnotf orLondontooverr
ulethem.
ANEW
SCOTLAND
THESCOTLAND
WESEEK
Webel
ievet
hatmeans
:
T
ax&
I
nves
tment
ALBAr
ecogni
sest
hati
tisi
mpos
sibl
etobui
ldt
heki
ndofSc
otl
andweas
pir
etowi
thout
i
nves
tingi
nit
.Wec
annothaveSc
andi
navi
an-qual
it
yser
vic
eswi
thl
ow r
atesoft
ax.
But
ALBAal
sor
ecogni
sest
hatSc
otl
and'
staxpower
sar
ewoef
ull
yli
mit
ed,
almos
tdes
igneds
o
t
heyar
edi c
ultt
ous
emeani
ngf
ull
y.Themoneywhi
chwoul
dber
ais
edbyt
inker
ing
wi
tht
heavai
labl
einc
omet
axpower
sisj
ustnot
hingl
ikeenoughf
ort
het
asksahead.
In
ani
ndependentSc
otl
andwec
anr
efor
m ourent
iret
axs
yst
em;
indevol
vedSc
otl
andwe'
re
t
ooeas
il
yst
ucki
nvi
rtue-s
ignal
li
ng.

SoALBAwi
lls
tic
ktopus
hingf
orwhatmake
sadie
renc
e,notwhatmake
susl
ookgood.
Taxpowe
rsmaybel
imi
tedbuti
nthewor
ldr
ightnow t
her
eisnos
hor
tageofav
ail
abl
e
c
api
tali
nve
stme
ntwhe
rei
tcande
liv
err
eas
onabl
erat
esofr
etur
n.Thi
smani
fes
toi
sful
lof
i
nve
stme
ntoppor
tuni
ti
eswhi
chde
liv
ers
u c
ientr
etur
ns–f
rom bui
ldi
ngnew hous
est
oa
new ge
ner
ati
onofc
arehome
sthatar
ebot
hbe
tte
randmor
ecos
t-e e
cti
ve,
from
c
ompone
ntsf
orr
enewabl
eene
rgyt
oti
mbe
rpr
oduc
tsf
orc
ons
truc
tion,
from Sc
ott
ishf
ood
f
orf
rees
choolme
alst
osuppor
tings
mal
lSc
ott
ishbus
ine
sse
s.Tounl
ockt
his
,wene
ed
Sc
otl
and'
snew Nat
ionalI
nve
stme
ntBankt
obegi
vent
heabi
li
tyt
ocapi
tal
is
efr
om gl
obal
mar
ket
s,s
owemus
tde
mandt
hispowe
rfr
om We
stmi
nst
ert
ofinanc
ear
ecov
eryf
rom
COVI
D-1
9ofas
cal
ere
qui
redt
ome
ett
hes
cal
eoft
hepos
tpande
mice
conomi
cshoc
k.

Theinves
tmentbankwi l
lworkwitht
heSc ott
ishFutur
esTrustanda
Scott
ishNati
onalRenewableCorpor
ation(SNRC)torais
et hecapi
tal
requi
redfori
nvest
mentpr oj
ect
storecoverandtransf
orm Scotl
and’
s
economicperf
ormance.

Thatwi
llbeatt
hehear
tofALBA’
srec
over
ypl
an.

TheSNRCwi
llbec
api
tal
is
edus
ingdi
vide
ndgai
nsf
rom publ
ici
nve
stme
ntsi
nSc
otl
and’
s
r
enewabl
eene
rgyi
ndus
tryt
oac
cumul
atei
ntoage
ner
ati
onal
,sov
ere
ignwe
alt
hfund
al
ongt
hel
ine
soft
heGov
ernme
ntPe
nsi
onFundofNor
way
.Thi
swi
llal
low t
heSc
ott
ish
pe
opl
etobe
nefitf
rom t
hee
nor
mit
yofournat
uralr
esour
ces(
ons
hor
eando s
hor
e)whi
le
pr
ovi
dingt
hec
oll
ate
ralr
equi
redt
obor
row c
heapl
yandi
nve
stwi
sel
y.
TheNor
wegi
anPe
nsi
onFunddr
awnf
rom t
hec
ount
ry’
slas
t25ye
arsofhydr
ocar
bon
r
eve
nue
snow hasanowne
rshi
pst
akei
nmor
ethan9,
000c
ompani
eswor
ldwi
de,
i
ncl
udi
ngAppl
e,Ne
stl
é,Mi
cros
oftandSams
ung.
Onav
erage
,thef
undhol
ds1
.4% ofal
lof
t
hewor
ld’
sli
ste
dcompani
es.

Sc
ott
ishr
enewabl
esons
hor
eando s
hor
ear
enow i
nthepos
iti
onofoi
landgasc
irc
a
1
970,wi
thmaj
oroppor
tuni
ti
esaheadbutr
equi
ri
ngt
hepol
it
icali
mper
ati
vet
osec
ure
t
hes
eres
our
cebene
fitsf
ort
henat
ion.
Tot
hatend,ALBAal
sopr
opos
est
hes
ett
ingupof
aSc
ott
ishNat
ionalRenewabl
eCor
por
ati
on.

TheSNRCwoul dr
ecei
veapubl
icshar
ehol
dinginalll
icens
edenergy
proj
ectsof30MW.TheSNRCwouldthenaccr
uerevenuesthatar
e
covenantedt
ounder
pint
henewinvest
mentfunds
.

ALBApr
opos
esaf
urt
hermeas
ureofr
esour
cet
axat
iont
obene
fitt
hepeopl
e;Sc
otl
and'
s
l
andi
sawonder
fulandunder
-us
edpr
oduc
tiveas
setwhi
chi
sent
ire
lyunt
axed.
Thi
s
s
houl
dchange.
Scot
lands
houl
dint
roduc
eal
andval
ueandus
etaxwhi
cht
axest
hatl
and
t
orai
ser
evenuef
rom t
hos
ewhoc
ana or
dit
,andt
oinc
ent
ivi
set
hepr
oduc
tiveus
eof
ourl
and.
Thi
sisat
axai
medatendi
ngt
hes
candalofwas
tedhoar
dedl
andas
set
sbe
ing
“banked”i
nst
eadofr
eleas
edi
ntopr
oduc
tiveoppor
tuni
ti
es.

Ambi
ti
on-
signal
li
ng,
notvi
rtue-
signal
li
ng.

Not
rans
for
mat
ionwi
thouti
nves
tment
.

Bri
ngtheworl
d'scapi
tali
nves
tmenttoScot
land–theri
ghtwayand
l
etScotl
and’
slandasset
sbereleas
edint
oproduct
iveus
eand
devel
opment
.

SoALBAwi
llpr
opos
e:

-TheScott
ishNati
onalInvest
mentBanktobegivendi
spens
ati
onto
capi
tal
isef
rom i
nternat
ionalcapi
tali
nves
tor
sandpensi
onfunds.

-Theintroducti
onofadevelopmentl
andt axi
nSc ot
land,wit
h
caref
ull
y-cali
bratedexempt
ionstopr
otectScotl
and'sf
arming
communi t
ybutai medatbr
ingi
ngassets
,curr
entlyhoarded,i
nto
product
iveus e.
Ec
onomi
cRec
over
y
Sc
otl
and'
sec
onomi
cpol
icyhasbec
omes
tal
e,c
onvent
ional
,compl
acent
,the
s
ame-ol
d-s
ame-ol
d.I
twas
n'tr
eal
lyfitf
orpur
pos
ebef
oret
hepandemi
candi
tcer
tai
nly
i
sn'
tnow.
Weneedt
oshakeupbus
ines
ssuppor
t,ourpubl
ici
nter
vent
ionsandour
pr
epar
ati
onsf
ort
hef
utur
eifwe'
regoi
ngt
orec
overf
rom t
heec
onomi
ccr
isi
sahead.
But
wec
anr
ecover–i
fwes
how r
ealc
our
age.

Itst
artsbyrecogni
si
ngt hatbiggerwas n'
talwaysbetter–the
economymayhavegr owni nrecentdecadesbutsodidi nequali
ty,
povertyandthecli
mat ecri
sis
. Butbett
erc anbebigger–wec angrow
inawayt hatputsmoneyi npeople'spocketsandfi
xesour
envir
onment .

Wene
edt
osuppor
tSc
ott
ishbus
ine
sse
sbyput
ti
ngt
hei
rint
ere
stsfir
standnott
hos
eof
mul
ti
nat
ionalc
orpor
ati
ons
.'Communi
tyWe
alt
hBui
ldi
ng'
–maki
ngs
uret
hate
conomi
es
r
etai
nmor
eoft
hei
rowns
pendi
ngt
osuppor
tthe
irownbus
ine
ssbas
e–hasbe
ens
hown
t
obev
erye e
cti
ve.
Capt
uri
ngmor
eofSc
otl
and'
sec
onomi
cac
tiv
ityf
ort
hebe
nefitof
Sc
otl
and,
andnotf
ore
igni
nve
stor
s,me
ansowni
ngmor
eofourowne
conomyand
br
ingi
ngmor
esuppl
ychai
nshome–notl
eas
tinr
enewabl
eene
rgy
,hous
ingandf
ood.
We
mus
tus
eaGr
eenNew De
alt
oki
cks
tar
tbui
ldi
ngupt
hos
esuppl
ychai
nsandGoodFood
Nat
ions
trat
egyt
oboos
tourf
oodpr
oduc
tionbus
ine
sse
s.

nev
I eryt
hingt
heSc
ott
ishGov
ernme
ntdoe
s,ev
eryt
imei
tspe
nds
,its
houl
das
kit
sel
f,'
Can
wege
tmor
emoneyi
ntoSc
ott
ishbus
ine
sse
sandc
anwedot
hingst
omaket
hem be
tte
r?'
.
Be
caus
eiti
snotf
ore
ignbi
gbus
ine
sse
swhi
chwi
llhe
lpSc
otl
andt
rul
yre
cov
er,
butourown
dome
sti
cbus
ine
ssbas
e–andwec
anhe
lpt
omaket
hem be
tte
rbus
ine
sse
satt
hes
ame
t
ime.
Scot
landmus
tus
e's
mar
tpr
ocur
eme
nt’
,suppor
tinggr
owi
ngbus
ine
sse
sint
hel
ong
t
erm bys
pendi
ngs
trat
egi
cal
ly.
The
rei
snos
hamei
nSc
otl
andowni
ngourowne
conomy
.

Butwe
'rei
nane
conomi
ccr
isi
sandi
tne
edsani
nte
rve
nti
onnow –t
weaki
ngt
hingsand
hopi
ngt
hef
utur
ewi
llbebe
tte
risnote
nough.
Wene
ede
conomi
cac
tiv
ityt
oex
pand
qui
ckl
yandwene
edt
ocr
eat
ejobs
.
Ther
eisnobet
terwayt
odot
hatt
hant
obui
ldnew hous
esandr
est
oreex
ist
ingones–
andnotbyfiddl
ingar
oundwi
thpl
anni
ngper
mis
sions
obi
gbus
ines
scanknoc
kout
anot
herl
uxur
ydevel
opment
.Wec
anc
reat
eapubl
icl
y-ownedhous
ingc
ompanyt
obui
ld
t
op-qual
it
ypubl
icr
ent
alhous
esoutofSc
ott
isht
imber
,whi
chgi
vej
obsandt
rai
ningt
o
youngpeopl
e,r
api
dlygr
owi
ngadomes
tics
uppl
ychai
noft
imberpr
oduc
ts,
andofc
our
se
pr
ovi
dinggr
eathomesf
orpeopl
e.I
fwedoi
tri
ghtwec
anbui
ldasmanyhous
esast
her
e
ar
epeopl
ewhor
equi
requal
it
yhous
es,
ata or
dabl
erent
s.

Butweal
soneedt
opr
epar
efort
hef
utur
ebec
aus
eal
oti
sgoi
ngt
ochange.
Scot
landwi
ll
neednew s
kil
ls
,new bus
ines
ses
,new i
nfr
ast
ruc
tur
e,anew vi
sionf
orwhati
spos
sibl
e.So
weneedt
opr
epar
ebyi
nves
tingi
ntr
aini
ng,
innovat
ion,
res
ear
chanddevel
opment
.And
weneedi
nves
tmentt
obet
her
ightki
ndofpat
ient
,suppor
tive,
long-t
ermi
nves
tment
t
hatgr
owsqual
it
y.

Putalloft
histogetherwitht
hetaxandinvest
mentpoli
ciesaboveand
thi
sistheindust
rialpol
icyScot
landneedstorec
overf
rom COVID-19.

Whati sont hisli

stwon' tbeenough–nol istwil
lbeenough. Heali
ngourec onomy,
fightingc l
imat ecrisi
s,r
enewi ngourpubl i
cinfr
as t
ructure,reduc
ingtheinjusti
ceof
economi cinequal i
tyandendi ngthehorrorsofpover t
y–t heyarei
nseparable,and
theyarethec hallengeofourer a,ofourgeneration.Scotlanddoesnothavet hepower
itneedstor eall
ygett or
ni ntothesechal
lenges.Butunt i
lwedo,wemus tus ethe
powerwehavet ogets t
arted.

St
arts
haki
ngupSc
otl
and'
sst
aleol
dec
onomi
cst
rat
egy
.
St
artput
tingSc
otl
and'
sbus
ines
sesf
ir
st.
St
artbui
ldi
nganec
onomi
cfut
uref
ort
heyoung.
St
artmaki
ngi
nequal
it
yunac
cept
abl
ewhenwegr
ow.
St
arts
avi
ngourenvi
ronmentwi
thever
yjobwecr
eat
e.
St
opac
cept
inganyec
onomywe'
reof
fer
ed.
St
artbui
ldi
ngt
heec
onomywer
eal
lyneed.
ALBAwi
ll
:
Pushforanewapproachtoeconomi
cdevel
opmentwhi
chmeas
uresnot
j
usthowt heec
onomygr ows
,buthowtheeconomyi
mpact
sonScot
land'
s
peopl
e.

Cr
eat
eani
ndus
tri
als
trat
egyt
ore
bui
ldSc
otl
and'
sdomes
ticbus
ines
sbas
ebyl
ett
ingt
he
Sc
ott
ishNat
ionalI
nves
tmentbankac
ces
sthepl
ent
if
ulc
api
talavai
labl
egl
obal
ly.

Re
for
m publ
icpr
ocur
ementt
oge
tmor
epubl
icmoneyi
ntot
hebankac
count
sofdomes
tic
bus
ines
sesandus
e's
mar
tpr
ocur
ement
'toguar
ant
eel
ong-t
erm or
derbookswhi
chl
et
t
hem gr
ow.

Makei
tapr
ior
ityt
ocapt
uremor
eoft
hes
uppl
ychai
nswhi
chSc
otl
and'
sec
onomyneeds
byus
ingCommuni
tyWeal
thBui
ldi
ngandt
urnt
hos
eint
ogoodj
obs
.

Doever
ythi
ngt
obuyl
andatt
hebes
tpos
sibl
epr
iceandbor
row f
rom t
heSc
ott
ish
Nat
ionalI
nves
tmentBankovert
hel
ongt
erms
othehous
esc
anbemadeavai
labl
efor
t
hel
owes
tpos
sibl
erent
.

Bui
ldamaj
orr
etr
aini
ngpr
ogr
ammei
ntot
hehear
toft
heHous
ingCompanyt
otr
ain
peopl
einSc
otl
andt
ofil
lthegapsi
nthec
ons
truc
tionwor
kfor
ce,andbui
ldt
hehous
esout
ofSc
ott
isht
imber
,sonotonl
ydowec
apt
uret
heec
onomi
cval
ueands
timul
ateal
arger
Sc
ott
ishwoodc
ons
truc
tionpr
oduc
tsi
ndus
trybutweal
sol
ockupat
mos
pher
icc
arbon
whenwebui
ld.
Buil
damaj orret
rai
ningpr ogrammeintotheheartoftheHousing
Companyt otr
ainpeopl einScotl
andtofi
llt
hegapsint heconstr
ucti
on
workforc
e, andbuil
dt hehousesoutofScott
ishti
mber,sonotonlydowe
capturetheeconomicval ueands t
imul
atealargerScotti
shwood
constr
uctionproductsindustr
ybutweal s
olockupat mospheri
cc ar
bon
whenwebui l
d.
Aswebui
ldanew gener
ati
onofreal
lyfirs
t-ratecar
ehomes
,(s
eebel
ow)us
ethatbui
ldi
ng
progr
ammetofur
therboos
tthes
upplychainindust
ries
.

OVERTHENEXT25YEARSALL
OFSCOTLAND'SONSHORE
WINDF ARMSWILLCOMETO
THEENDOFTHEI RWORKING
LI
FEANDNEEDTOBE
REPLACED(THEFI
RSTVERY
SOON).
TheSc
ott
ishNat
ionalRenewabl
esCor
por
ati
onwi
llmakes
uret
hatt
hist
imeaf
argr
eat
-
erpr
opor
tionoft
hos
emaj
orwi
ndf
armswi
llembr
acepubl
icandc
ommuni
tyowner
shi
p
andt
hatmanymor
eoft
hec
omponent
sfr
om whi
cht
hey'
rebui
ltar
emadei
nSc
otl
and,
whi
les
uppor
tingSc
ott
ishbus
ines
sest
osc
aleupt
omee
tthatdemand.

Ensur
et heNati
onalI
nvest
mentBankinvest
sinScot
tis
hfoodbus i
nessest
o
suppl
yt hef
ood,asweintr
oduc
eall-
year-r
oundfr
eeschoolbreakfas
tsand
mealsforal
learl
yyears
,pri
maryandsecondarys
choolpupil
s(seebelow)
.
Promotemuchgreat
erde
vel
opmentofcooper
ati
vebusi
nes
sesin
Scotl
andwhichhel
ptocr
eat
eamoreinnovati
veandbal
anced
economy.

Mak ebett
eruseofournati
onalas
set
ss uchasourland(thr
ough
planni
ngandl andr
efor
ml i
nkedtoalandtax),
ourportsandourseabed
(bytur
ningtheCrownEstat
eint
oaPeopl e'
sEstat
eass oonaspossi
ble)
.
Fartoooften'500newjobs'meant500insecurejobsbarel
ypayi
ng
theli
vingwage. Anditi
sfartoor
areforaSc ot
tis
hwor kert
ohaveany
realsayorstakeinthecompanyforwhichtheywor k.
WORK,
WAGES
ANDWELF
ARE
WOMENAND
EQUALI
TIES
TheALBAWomen’sConf
erenceadopt
edthefol
lowingdeclarat
ionwhi
ch
i
sofsuchi
mpor
tanceastobeincl
udedinf
ulli
nthismanifest
o.

We’
real
lequali
nALBA
THETIMEFOR
TARGETSIS
LONGPAST ;
THETIMEFOR
ACTIONISUPON
US
Cl
imat
eCr
isi
s

Weknow t hati tisamat terofhuman

survivalthatwegett hisrightandwe
know whati tisweneedt odo.Weneed
tostopourhous esleakingheat .We
needt or epl acef oss
ilfuelsinour
energys ys tem,i ncludinghow weheat
ourhomes .Weneedt os topwas t
ing
ournat ur alr esources.Weneedt olook
aft
erourl andbet t
ersos oilrec
overs
ands toresc arbon. Weneedt ochange
ourent i
ret rans portsystem soitis
n't
basedonpet rolproduc t
s. Andtheuse
ofsingle-us epl asti
cmus tcometoan
endi nSc otland.

Thisi sthec hal lenge,andi tisaver y

bigone–buti ti sal soagr eat
oppor tunity. Bec auseweneedt oinvest
serious l
yint hi
si tmeanswec angeta
verys ignific antec onomi cstimul us
from t hespendi ng. Ifwedoi tright,we
canc reateent i
r elynew
envi r
onment ally-f r
iendly
manuf acturingi ndus tr
iesinSc otland
andi twi llcer t
ai nlyneedal otofs kil
led
jobst ogett hewor kdone. Mi ti
gat ing
thec l
imat eemer genc yisadut y;using
thatt omi tigates ocialandec onomi c
fail
ur esisar espons ibil
itywemus ttake
justass erious l
y. Toget her,thes eare
knownasaGr eenNew Deal .

Sorichi nnaturalandener gyresources

arewet hatf
ew nat ionshavemor e
potentialtosetaleadi ngetti
ngthisall
donet hanSc otl
and. Sett
ingthatleadis
adut ythatmus tsitheavilyonour
shoulder s
.ButScotlanddoesnothave
Heal
thandCar
e

Wemus
tkeepdoi
ngever
ythi
ngwec
ant
obr
ingt
heCOVI
D-1
9cr
isi
stos
omeki
ndofa
manageabl
eendasmor
eandmor
einf
ormat
ionbec
omesavai
labl
e,butweal
soneedt
o
makes
uret
hatweunder
standwhatHol
yrooddi
dwel
l,andwhati
tdi
dbadl
y,s
oles
sons
ar
etr
ulyl
ear
nedbef
orei
tist
ool
ate.
Thi
smeansweneedapower
fulandi
ndependent
r
evi
ew i
ntoSc
otl
and'
sCOVI
D-1
9per
for
manc
ewhi
chdoesnothi
debehi
nda'
four
nat
ions
'st
rat
egy.
Butwhi
let
her
ewasnoopt
ionbutt
odevot
eenor
mousr
esour
cest
o
Covi
d,t
oomanypeopl
ewi
thot
herur
gentheal
thneedshavebeenkeptwai
ti
ng,
sowe
needt
ocat
chup.
Andi
tmus
tal
sobet
hemomentwhenwefinal
lyunder
standt
hatour
NHSi
saboutourf
ront
li
nes
ta andt
heenor
mit
yoft
hepr
ess
urest
heyhavef
aced.
.. SHAKE THINGS UP
� Health and Care

Scotland must never forget what the pandemic

taught us about what matters to us. We must care
more about the people who care for us.

Health is born in a warm home with a full belly.

From the cradle to the grave, Scotland must be there

for you.

ALBA Advocates:
No let up in the fight against Covid,
informed by a powerful independent
inquiry to find out what Scotland must
learn from its successes and mistakes.
To bring forward and invest in a 'catch-up'
programme for all the NHS activity which
was cancelled because of Covid.
A mental health recovery plan, recognising
the impact of the pandemic on the mental
wellbeing of the nation.
To streamline management structures in
the NHS and create greater frontline staff
involvement in management.
Togobeyondt hecurrentpr
opos al
sfora
Nat i
onalCareSer
vicetomakei tfr
eeat
thepointofneedandownedbyt he
public,ands
etupapr operreviewt o
exploreacomprehensiveal
l-agescar e
servi
ce.

Thebuil
dingofanewgenerat
ionof
worl
d-cl
assmoderncarehomeswhichare
muchbetterf
orres
ident
sandlessexpens
ive
tor
un.
POVERTYISTHE
ENEMYOF
EDUCATI
ON.
Educat
ionandTr
aini
ng

Thingshav emov edonintheye arssi

nc eCur r
icul
umf orExce
llencewas
es t
ablis
hedandwene edtolearnfromt hee xperi
encessi
nce,i
nt r
oduci
ngne w
ideaswhe retheymak ese
ns eandf i
xingprobl emsandinequaliti
eswher
ewe
findthem. Thisi
sevenmor eimpor t
antaf t
e rthedis
rupti
onthepande michas
caus edtheeducati
onofSc otl
and'schi l
dren.And,ofcourse,
traini
ngaswe l
l
ase ducati
oni sgoi
ngtobec ruciali
nt hepos t
-COVI D-1
9era.

Wewil
lneverhavethee
ducat
ionsyst
emwede s
erv
ewithoutmak
ingpov
ert
y
r
educ
tionaprior
it
y.Pover
tyi
stheenemyofe
ducati
on.

Scot
land'
sfut
ureli
esintheskil
ls
andknowledgeofit
speople.
ALBAadvoc
ates
:
ALBAwi
ll
adv
ocat
e:

Ref
or m ofHolyrood,i
ncludi
ngtaki
ngt heappoint
mentoftheConvener
sof
Commi tteesoutofthehandsofpol
it
icalpart
iesandput
tingi
tinthehandsof
par
liament .

Bri
ngingr
ealpowerbac
ktoSc
otl
and'
scommuni
ti
esbybui
ldi
ngapr
opers
yst
em of
l
ocaldemocr
acy.

Implement
ingther
adi
calpropos
alfrom t
hefirs
tCit
izens’As
semblyandcreatea
sec
ondCiti
zens
’ChamberforHolyr
oodwhi c
hcoul
ds i
tintheRoyalHighSchoolon
Calt
onHill
.

Thebes
tmeansofel
ect
ionors
elec
tionc
anbedi
scus
sedbutt
hei
ntenti
scl
ear
.

I
twoul
dbel
ikeaper
manentCi
ti
zens
’As
sembl
y,1
00peopl
egi
vent
hepower
stor
evi
ew
t
hel
egi
sl
ati
onpr
oduc
edbyHol
yrood,
produc
eit
sowni
deasandhol
dinqui
ri
esi
nto
anyt
hingi
tli
kes
.
Tocr
eatethef
utur
ewemus
tal
lbe
cr
eat
ives
.
Ifwel
if
tupourar
tis
tst
heywi
lll
if
tus
upinr
etur
n.
Lett
heworlds
eewhatmodern
Scot
landi
s–onit
sci
nemas c
reens
.
WENEEDA
NATI
ONALAGENCY
THATDOESN'T
ONLY'MEASURE'
ARTI
STSBUT
WHICHELEVATES
THEM.
ALBAAdvoc
ates
:
ALBA’
SCHARTER
FORPENSI
ONSAND
PENSI
ONERS
Pensi
onsarenotaprivi
lege
.Theyareasacr
edcontr
actbe
tweent
he
curr
entgener
ationandthoseofear
li
ergene
rat
ionswhowork
edand
sacr
ifi
cedtocr
eatesoci
etyasweknowi t
.

ALBAwi l
lbet
hechampi
onof
Scot
tis
hpensi
oner
s
ALBA’
SCHARTER
FORPENSI
ONSAND
PENSI
ONERS
Pensi
onsremainful
lyreser
vedtoWestminst
er.Evenwiththel
imit
ed
soci
alsecur
itypowersdevol
vedtoSc
otland,theScott
ishParl
iament
doesnothavethepowe rt
ocreat
enewpe nsi
onbe nef
it
s.Thisi
s
expl
ici
tl
ys e
toutintheScotl
andAct2016.

ALBAdemandst
hatpowerover
pensi
onsmus
tbedevol
vedto
Holyr
ood
ALBA’
SCHARTER
FORPENSI
ONSAND
PENSI
ONERS
ALBApledgest
obet
hebes
tdef
enderofwomen’
sri
ght
sin
Scot
land.

Whileweagr eewi thequal isi

ngt hes tat
epens ionage,ALBA
doesnots upporttheunf airmanneri nwhi cht hes echanges
weremadebyt heCons ervative-LibDem Coal it
ionGover nment
inthe201 1Pens i
onsAc t.Inpar t
icular,t
hispoorl egisl
ati
on-
andt hefail
ureofmi nisterstopr operlyinfor
m ofi tsti
mingand
consequences–r es ult
edi ns ome3. 9mi lli
oni nt heUKand
Scotl
and,bor nint he1 950s ,su eringuni quelyfr om the
impos edchanges .
Asapr i
or i
ty,ALBAel ectedmember swi l
l
conti
nuet ocampai gnatWes t minstertodeliverf airpensi
ons
forWASPIwomen.

ALBAdef
endsTheWASPI
Women
ALBA’
SCHARTER
FORPENSI
ONSAND
PENSI
ONERS
ThoseUKcit
ize
nsl i
vingi
nScotl
andafte
rindependencewil
lsti
llbeel
i-
gibl
e,i
nwholeorinpart,
fort
heBri
tis
hs t
atepensiontowhichthey
contr
ibut
edthroughthei
rtax
espri
ortoScott
ishindepende
nc e
.

Prot
ect
ingpensi
oner
saf
ter
i
ndependence
LGBTQ+AND
COMMUNITY
RIGHTS
MINORI
TY
COMMUNITI
ES
ALBA’SDISABLED
PEOPLE’S
INI
TIATI
VE
I
NALBAWEAREALLEQUAL

ADisabi
li
tyNat
ionalSuppor
t
Cent
re
Di
git
all
yAc
ces
sibl
eHous
es
FAI
TH
COMMUNI
TIES
SMALL
BUSI
NESS
OWNERS
CHI
LDREN

YOUNGADUL
TS
BEYONDTHE
CENTRALBEL
T

SCOTLAND'
STOWNS
RURALSCOTLAND
Summar
y