NICOLA Sturgeon had to tell a BBC journalist to stop interrupting her at the launch of the Scottish Government’s paper on the economic case for independence.
The First Minister said the Scottish Government would “openly and frankly” address issues like currency, debt, deficit and trade across the UK.
Sturgeon launched the press conference following the Chancellor’s statement in which he reversed most of the measures in the mini budget.
BBC journalist James Cook asked the First Minister about tax rises and borrowing.
Sturgeon started to reply and said: “In terms of Scotland’s position, current position, of course, is a reflection of Westminster governance, not a reflection of life in an independent Scotland but nevertheless the position we inherit is the one we will have to manage.”
The First Minister went on to explain that this year’s Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (GERS) report would show Scotland’s deficit is similar to or lower than the UK’s.
Before trying to carry on, however, Cook interrupted and said: “You and I know that’s oil. That is the current high oil price and wasn’t that the mistake you made in 2014, was looking at that.”
Sturgeon replied: “So, I think if you had not interrupted me, you would have found that was actually going to be the next words out of my mouth.
“Sometimes not interrupting gets you further than interrupting James.”
The First Minister continued to answer Cook’s question, explaining that it was important to transition into net zero and to grow the economy by investing in infrastructure.
Cook then went on to say: “But that’s the point, the medium-term First Minister isn’t it, you can’t have it both ways.
“You can’t invest that money in an oil fund to help the economy in the long-term and also say that there won’t be tax rises or spending cuts or expensive borrowing.”
Despite continually trying to interject, Cook continued to speak over the First Minister.
Sturgeon then said: “You'll find if I’m able to speak, you’ll get better answers than if you just keep talking over me.
“I am not trying to say we will do both.
“As we use oil revenues to invest, to kick-start growth which increases the revenue in our economy, day-to-day public spending will operate within the fiscal rules we set.
“And these fiscal rules, as they are with any country, are not about delivering budget balance immediately, it’s about delivering budget balance over a period of time.
“And if you grow revenues, that gets you to that, I think, in a better and more sustainable way and in a way that is better for society than the alternatives you talk about.
“For any country, it is about that balance, we are setting out here how we think we can achieve that balance in a better way.
“Incidentally, because this goes to the heart of your question I would have got to quicker had you not interrupted me twice.
“I’m only teasing.”
Cook then shouted out that it was called “accountability” to which Sturgeon reiterated she was “only teasing”.
Sturgeon continued: “We’ve got lots of questions. I am accountable which is why I’m going to stand here until every journalist in this room has got the chance to answer a question, unlike some.”
