Annabel Goldie in the Scottish Parliament

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament chamber this morning, Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative Leader, said (check against delivery):

Presiding officer, we all want to take Scotland forward. The questions are which Scotland, and how?

It is fantastic to be Scottish. It is great to be British. I am proud to be both.

The two are not in competition. They are not mutually exclusive. They are mutually inclusive, complimentary and represent the best of both worlds. Many people share that positive assessment.

And there is a difference between patriotism and nationalism. One can be a broad and widely shared sentiment of pride and cultural adherence, the other can become narrow, restrictive and introspective. Now I want the best for my country – and for me the best is being Scottish and British and working together for the good of us all.

I know that not everyone agrees with that view, I respect their right to their view but I don't share it.

Our United Kingdom Union is not broken, but like any other enduring institution it needs to adapt and move with the times.

That is why the Scotland Bill is the way ahead. Let me remind the First Minister that implementing the Scotland Bill was a commitment of 53 of the 59 Scottish MPs elected to Scotland's other parliament last year. Alex Salmond's is not the only mandate. Scotland by referendum has voted for a devolved Scottish Parliament with tax varying powers. That is the settled will.

And let's just nail this so called independence lite argument once and for all. You can no more be independent lite than you can be pregnant lite. You are either one or the other. You either are or you are not. All the code and all the soft shoe shuffling in the world can't hide the simple truth: We are either Scottish and British or we are not.

At its root, the debate about our identity is not just about economics, balance sheets, or profit and loss accounts.

We can argue until the cows come home about how much worse off Scotland would be if rent asunder from Britain - but at its core it is about how we feel.

About whether Scotland has some deep seated grievance and sense of disquiet which compels us to seek divorce from England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or whether Scotland is at ease within the United Kingdom and positive about an enduring relationship promoting our mutual good.

This debate is about who we feel we are, and what we want to be; as we are, or on our own; part of the British family, or just a northern neighbour looking on? Working together for the common good, sharing our assets and spreading our risks or taking the separation gamble?

At its simplest, the Union is about doing what families do best – just being together, comfortable with each other, at ease with each other – and yes having the occasional squabble and difference of opinion, but knowing and that we are stronger together - the best of both worlds, comfortable with who we are.

And so I repeat: It is fantastic to be Scottish. It is great to be British. I am proud to be both.

I accept that the First Minister won his argument about holding an independence vote in this Parliament.

But there are two big questions which he must face up to, now that the public has called his bluff:

The referendum question itself and its timing.

Of the question itself, it must be fair, it cannot be open to challenge.

It cannot be ambiguous.

It cannot be a referendum lite.

It cannot merely ask for the right to negotiate, it must give the people an actual fundamental choice:

Do you want to remain part of Britain, or do you want to be a separate state? It is one or the other.

And now that a vote is inevitable, the First Minister needs to explain his change of views on timing: If holding a referendum was the right thing to do last year when he had a minority of seats in this Chamber, then why does he now wish to delay it by years when he has a majority?

Presiding Officer, the Scotland I want to take forward is one which has learned from the past, is comfortable with its present and optimistic about its future.

So let's turn to how we take Scotland forward, how we create a fair society.

Now that it has been established that the First Minister on his own omission does not have a monopoly of wisdom, let me put that to the test.

Here is the Scottish Conservative manifesto. It is packed full of good ideas – ideas which address the real pressing priorities of Scotland, using all our existing powers.

Policies to boost the economy and create jobs; policies to reform our public services. Policies to take Scotland forward.

Over the coming weeks and months, the Scottish Conservatives will continue to do what we did over the last 4 years: To find every means we can to deliver common sense for Scotland.

That means putting our case debate by debate, committee by committee, argument by argument, standing up and speaking out.

We will test every assertion made by the SNP government.

We will provide both the opposition needed and the alternative voice required.

We will carry on telling it like it is – however much the SNP doesn't want to hear that.

So when the uncomfortable truth needs telling, we will tell it. And when there is a better way to do things, we will be its advocate.

Now I recognise that politics, especially when facing a government with a majority, is the art of the possible – of not chasing unrealisable dreams.

My colleagues will set out in more detail the policies which should be considered, but let me paint a picture of what the Scottish government should be doing, and could reasonably be expected to do.

On the economy, creating jobs and boosting economic growth are, rightly, the number one priorities which underpin everything we strive to do.

There is no question the jobs of the future will come from the private sector. So whilst we must protect our vital public services, if we are to create more prospects, more opportunity, more jobs and more wealth for all of us, we must grow the private sector.

I want an entrepreneurial, dynamic, thriving Scotland. A Scotland that backs small business, providing a framework for them to succeed and prosper. Let these be the watchwords of this new Parliament.

On our public services, we now have a minister with a specific brief for public sector reform. But that must be more than an elongated name on a business card – it must lead to real and meaningful change.

It has to mean the end to the "ay been" mentality, the "this is how it is because this is how it has always been". We must break that statist quo.

We must embrace all the talents of Scotland, its third sector and, yes, its private sector and accept this simple premise: You don't have to be a public servant to provide a public service.

This must be a Scotland of all the talents. That is a fairer society – and a bigger society.

Let me turn to 3 specific areas where I believe progress is possible and more can be done. Areas where, I hope, there is common ground.

Health visitors are the vital point of contact with parents and young families, in the community, in their homes, speaking to mum and dad, giving reassurance, help and advice, and often spotting problems before they develop.

We want to ensure that all families, regardless of income, area, or need have access to the health visitor service.

On this, I hope that the Cabinet Secretary for Health will agree to an early meeting with my colleague, Murdo Fraser.

Secondly, more has to be done to rehabilitate prisoners in our jails. I know that the SNP is not going to see sense on short-term sentences, but I hope they will at least see common ground on the urgent need to cut crime by pro-active rehabilitation.

So much more could be done with prisoners to address their addictions, and indeed other underlying health or social issues.

Again, I hope that the Cabinet Secretary for Justice will take them on board and meet my colleague John Lamont.

Finally, let me turn to something which I make no apology for returning to again.

Drugs abuse.

As I said yesterday, I pay tribute to the government for listening and producing the new national drugs strategy based on recovery.

But a new strategy is not enough if nothing really changes on the ground.

It is a long and hard fight – but one which we must never abandon.

I personally pledge to continue that fight.

I know that the First Minister will join me in that battle. We may disagree on many things, but let us unite on this.

Presiding Officer, this parliament has entered a new era.

One where we can either seek solutions or one in which we can manufacture grievance and allow discord to ferment. For me, it will always be the former.

So whilst the constitutional debate will undoubtedly rage, let nobody in this chamber today forget why we are here:

To take our devolved responsibilities seriously and by doing so to take Scotland Forward.

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