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Summary

  • First Minister John Swinney is quizzed on measures to tackle knife crime after a spate of incidents including the death of a teenager at Irvine beach

  • Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay says teenagers do not feel safe when they leave the house

  • Swinney says early intervention and education are key but every incident is "one too many"

  • The FM says the long-term trend shows knife crime has fallen after initiatives such as the violence reduction programme

  • Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar says many parents are asking how the government has allowed things to get out of control

  • Lorna Slater, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, urges faster action on climate change and higher taxes on polluters

  • Swinney is also questioned on measures to boost the economy, football disorder, for colleges and the new EU deal

  1. FMQs - The headlinespublished at 13:13 British Summer Time 22 May

    If you're just ing us, here's a recap of the headlines from today's First Minister's Questions:

    • Russell Findlay asked what action is being taken to tackle youth knife crime, the issue which dominated FMQs.
    • The Scottish Tory leader said teenagers don't feel safe to leave their homes after a spate of tragic incidents over the weekend, one of which saw 16-year-old Kayden Moy killed.
    • John Swinney said the government was committed to a three-step approach to tackling the issue - early intervention, education and effective punishment.
    • Anas Sarwar also went on knife crime, arguing the number of young people caught with knives has risen.
    • The Scottish Labour leader said the cuts to police budgets have led to the current "crisis".
    • The first minister defended the SNP's record on tackling crime, saying assaults with a knife have fallen since 2009.
    • Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater said the government needs to adopt a "proper plan" to fight climate change.
    • SNP MSP Karen Adams said the new EU deal is a betrayal to Scotland's fishing industry.
    • While, independent MSP John Mason called Celtic fan celebrations in Glasgow city centre "unacceptable".

    That concludes our live coverage of FMQs for this week. Paul McLaren was today's editor. Megan Bonar and Jonathan Geddes were the writers.

  2. Analysis

    Swinney seems more and more keen to talk independencepublished at 13:07 British Summer Time 22 May

    Philip Sim
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    It’s always interesting to see what topics John Swinney has teed up for him by his backbenchers on a Thursday.

    Nine times out of 10 it’s an opportunity to have a go at the UK government, and today was no different when it came to the UK-EU deal announced on Monday.

    What’s particularly notable is that Mr Swinney used this as an opportunity to talk about independence.

    It’s something he didn’t talk about very much at all during the “ship-steadying” first year of his leadership of the SNP.

    Perhaps that’s in part because it remains unclear how the constitutional question is to be progressed – or in part because of the beating his party took in the general election campaign.

    But it seems like it’s something he’s more and more keen to talk about, as another election comes over the horizon.

    His speech marking a year until the 2026 poll was heavy with talk about independence, and he’s started slipping references into his FMQs answers too.

    It feels like the beginning of a pivot from Mr Swinney, a move to motivate the SNP’s base to come out next May by leaning into their very favourite topic.

  3. Background: Football violence and vandalismpublished at 13:04 British Summer Time 22 May

    Thousands of Celtic fans attended an unofficial street party in Glasgow's Trongate on Saturday to celebrate being presented with the league title.

    This was despite the club having asked fans not to attend, after a series of well-publicised problems in recent years with local shops and businesses complaining about the scenes stopping non-fans visiting the area.

    Since Saturday, 17 people have been charged and four have been reported over offences including being in possession of pyrotechnics or offensive weapons, assault and public disorder.

    On the same day, Aberdeen player Jack MacKenzie was struck on the head by part of a chair following his side's loss to Dundee United.

    An Aberdeen er has since appeared in court accused of acting in a culpable and reckless manner at the game.

  4. Football fan scenes 'unacceptable', says Swinneypublished at 12:59 British Summer Time 22 May

    celebrating celtic fansImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Celtic fans celebrated in Glasgow city centre after Saturday's game

    The independent MSP John Mason switches to what he calls "deplorable" scenes around football last weekend, including in Glasgow streets as Celtic fans celebrated their league title victory.

    He asks Swinney if clubs should take more responsibility for ers' behaviour.

    Swinney says the scenes were "unacceptable", and also mentions a chair hitting an Aberdeen player during fan disruption at Tannadice after Dundee Utd beat Aberdeen 2-1. Celebrations should not inconvenience or harm other people, he adds.

    The justice secretary will meet with key partners to discuss how to stop such incidents, the first minister says, which could include various clubs.

  5. Bus drivers deserve a fair pay deal - Labour MSP Mochanpublished at 12:56 British Summer Time 22 May

    Carol Mochan asks the first minister if he agrees that Stagecoach bus drivers deserve a fair pay deal.

    A total of 430 drivers on routes in Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Glasgow are set to strike after refusing to accept a 4% pay offer.

    Labour MSP Mochan says west of Scotland drivers are the lowest paid Stagecoach drivers in the UK

    The first minister says bus drivers provide a “critical service” and encourages stakeholders to work together to find an agreement to avoid disruption.

  6. Background: Controversy over UK fishing deal with EUpublished at 12:53 British Summer Time 22 May

    fishing boatImage source, PA Media

    Some sections of Scotland's fishing industry have accused Sir Keir Starmer's government of "capitulating" to the EU over a deal on access to UK waters.

    Labour ministers have agreed a 12-year deal which extends existing access for EU boats in exchange for reduced checks and restrictions on food exports.

    The agreement was described as "disastrous" by the Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF) while Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said it was a "great betrayal of our fishing fleet".

    But fish farming body Salmon Scotland welcomed the deal as a "slashing of red tape" which will allow Scottish products and people easier access to the EU.

    Read more here

  7. Fishing industry 'betrayed' by Westministerpublished at 12:49 British Summer Time 22 May

    karen adamImage source, scottish parliament

    The SNP MSP Karen Adam brings up the deal between the Westminster government and the EU regarding fisheries - she calls this a "betrayal" of Scotland's fishing industry.

    To applause from her own benches, she asks if the first minister will guarantee putting Scotland's interests first.

    He replies by saying, to a heated reaction in the chamber, that only independence can protect the fisheries industry in Scotland and stop it being "sold out" by the UK government.

  8. Businesses being 'punished' by high Scottish tax ratespublished at 12:46 British Summer Time 22 May

    graham simpsonImage source, scottish parliament

    Scottish Tory MSP Graham Simpson brings up a report by the Sir Tom Hunter Foundation, which examined lessons Scotland could learn from Singapore regarding the economy.

    The first minister says he particularly agrees with Tom Hunter's comment that Scotland needs a migration policy separate from the UK government.

    Simpson then goes into Scottish businesses being "punished" by higher tax rates compared to Singapore - lower and simpler taxes would inspire innovation and lead to investment, he claims.

    Swinney rejects this, saying the correct approach is to raise revenue to invest in public services - he says Tory plans to reduce expenditure by over £1bn would harm Scottish services.

  9. Three young deaths - knife crime is getting worse, says Labour MSPpublished at 12:42 British Summer Time 22 May

    Foysol ChoudhuryImage source, scottish parliament

    We return to knife crime, and Scottish Labour’s Foysol Choudhury asks how the Scottish government is working to prevent it.

    The MSP says three young people have been killed in the past year, as well as 11 further stabbings involving young people.

    “The problem seems to be be getting worse,” he says.

    The FM reiterates earlier comments, adding the government has invested more than £6m in violence prevention frameworks.

  10. 'The union and Westminster are not working for Scotland' - SNP MSP Coffeypublished at 12:39 British Summer Time 22 May

    Another shift in the questioning, as SNP MSP Willie Coffey asks the first minister about a report on Scotland’s economy.

    He says average earnings in Scotland are £15,000 less per year than they would have been “if wages had not flatlined since the financial crisis”.

    The MSP says the Future Economy Scotland report shows “the union and Westminster” are “not working for Scotland”.

    The first minister says Scotland’s economy has been “robust” despite financial challenges, adding average GDP here is the highest in the UK. He insists independence would give the government more control on finances.

  11. Swinney - government still committed to climate change targetspublished at 12:36 British Summer Time 22 May

    Responding to Loran Slater, the first minister say he welcomed the climate change committee report and that the government is "absolutely committed" to reducing net zero emissions.

    One example of this is scrapping peak-time rail fares, he says.

    This does not impress Slater, who says the Scottish government has spent the past year "ripping up policies" designed to combat climate change.

    Polluters, like fossil fuel companies, need to pay, she argues - calling for more taxes on these firms.

    The first minister brings up the government ing electric vehicles, before saying investment in new technology will help create new "green" jobs.

  12. Background: The 20-year challenge to tackle climate changepublished at 12:35 British Summer Time 22 May

    climate change protesters holding a poster demanding government actionImage source, Getty Images

    Independent experts have proposed a new set of targets to tackle climate change in Scotland over the next 20 years.

    Annual targets were abandoned by the Scottish government last year after repeatedly being missed – but ministers retained the pledge to reach net zero by 2045.

    The Climate Change Committee (CCC) says that to meet that goal, emissions need to fall by an average of 57% over the next five years and by 69% to 2035, when compared with 1990 levels.

    Read more here

  13. Proper plan needed for climate change, says Slaterpublished at 12:34 British Summer Time 22 May

    Lorna SlaterImage source, scottish parliament

    We now move to Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater, who brings up a climate change report that says Scotland is on a "disastrous trajectory" regarding net zero.

    The report shows there needs to be a "proper plan" regarding warmer homes and investment in making public transport affordable.

    She challenges Swinney to balance Scotland's carbon budget.

  14. Analysis

    A day to promote unity on the most serious of issuespublished at 12:31 British Summer Time 22 May

    Philip Sim
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    This is the type of serious topic which often produces less partisan exchanges.

    When leaders are quoting bereaved parents, if often takes the temperature down a bit.

    But they still found space for searing criticism, with both Russell Findlay and Anas Sarwar clear about where they believe the blame lies for what they term weaknesses in the system.

    This ranged from discipline in schools to sentencing guidelines, to questioning the very creation of Police Scotland.

    John Swinney, as ever, had some statistics to draw upon about falling crime rates.

    And he leaned into the fact that all parties genuinely want to find solutions to this issue, inviting leaders to work collectively to deal with it.

    He clearly judged that today was a day to promote unity, to talk about coming together to meet the challenge – rather than the opposition’s barbs about what caused that challenge in the first place.

  15. Crisis 'years in the making' says Sarwarpublished at 12:30 British Summer Time 22 May

    Sarwar says Swinney's response ignores “wider systemic damage”.

    “This crisis didn’t emerge overnight, it’s been years in the making,” he adds.

    The Scottish Labour leader says the creation of Police Scotland, falling police numbers and the closure of local police stations have contributed to the problem.

    The first minister says there has been a 69% decrease in assaults with a sharp object since the creation of Police Scotland with over all crime also falling since 2008/09.

    "Scotland is a safer place since Police Scotland was created," says Swinney.

  16. Three-step approach to knife crime, says the FMpublished at 12:23 British Summer Time 22 May

    The first minister tells Sarwar the government is taking a three-step approach to the issue.

    The first involves early intervention through providing education programmes on the danger of carrying a knife. The second is school and community engagement.

    The third, he says, is ensuring there is there is “effective punishment is in place” when offences take place.

    “I share the devastation about the loss of young lives”, he adds.

  17. Culture of violence is going unchallenged - Sarwarpublished at 12:22 British Summer Time 22 May

    anas sarwarImage source, scottish parliament

    Anas Sarwar also asks about the topical issue of teenage knife crime.

    The Scottish Labour leader says a “culture of violence is going unchallenged” and the number of young people caught with knives is rising.

    He asks the first minister how the government has allowed the issue to get “so out of control”.

    The first minister reiterates that the government is taking the issue seriously.

  18. 'Victims are being ignored'published at 12:21 British Summer Time 22 May

    Findlay again tries to link the SNP with youth violence - he says teachers can no longer discipline disruptive pupils, due to official government guidelines.

    He criticises the SNP for sending more teenagers to children's s, meaning "victims are ignored", before going on to call sentencing guidelines for under-25s "perverse" for not being strong enough.

    The approach is "weak and reckless, and costing lives" says Findlay.

    Swinney rebuts this, saying imprisonment is still an option for teenagers - it is "vital that the public understands this", he says and that Findlay needs to understand the law.

  19. SNP has 'weakened' justice system - Findlaypublished at 12:15 British Summer Time 22 May

    John SwinneyImage source, scottish parliament

    The Scottish Tory leader responds by saying knife crime is not occurring in a vacuum, and that the "sickening" violence can be linked to Scottish government policies.

    The SNP has "systematically weakened the justice system" claims Findlay, resulting in teenagers not believing there are no consequences in carrying knives.

    It is time for a "tougher approach", he concludes.

    Swinney returns to education programmes in his response, saying this is "proactive work" to address issues, combined with "firmness in the justice system" to combat criminals.

  20. Swinney - 'one knife incident is one too many'published at 12:11 British Summer Time 22 May

    The first minister begins his response by expressing his sympathies to the family of Kayden Moy, saying that one incident of knife crime is "one too many" and that the violence was "totally unacceptable".

    Swinney then continues by outlining three steps the Scottish government is taking regarding knife crime, which involves stressing the dangers in carrying a knife, the punishments for doing so, and education programmes.

    He adds that there has been a sustained fall in knife crime over the past 15 years, and the government is continuing to try and eradicate it.