First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has used her first New Year message as Scotland’s political leader to pay tribute to NHS workers and emergency service staff.
Visiting the maternity unit at Glasgow’s Southern General Hospital today and reflecting on the city’s bin lorry tragedy last week, Ms Sturgeon highlighted the work they do to help and support the public.
Ms Sturgeon said her New Year’s resolution was to make sure every child in Scotland had a “fair chance to fulfil their potential” by closing the attainment gap and supporting less well off families.
She added that 2014 – the year of the independence referendum, Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup – had been the “most extraordinary” time for the country, which has experienced economic growth and falling unemployment.
Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael, a Liberal Democrat MP, vowed to ensure Holyrood receives new powers to strengthen Scotland as part of the UK.
“More than anything else, I hope that we can move on from the referendum in 2015,” he added.
“We cannot go on having the same arguments and debates – we must also continue to heal the referendum rift.
“So while 2014 was about whether we should divided, I look forward to 2015 as a year in which we can unite.”
Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy said 2015 would be the year the public rises up to remove Prime Minister David Cameron and his party from power.
“After the divisions of the referendum, we have the opportunity to unite together to make Scotland the fairest nation on earth,” he added.
“Only Labour is big enough and strong enough across the UK to remove the Tories from power.
“So my message to every Scot who wants a fairer, more just and more equal nation is this – let’s come together and make our movement stronger.”
Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson said the New Year was “a time for looking ahead, making plans and starting afresh”.
“Scotland has had the most amazing 12 months – from the Commonwealth Games to the Ryder Cup and, of course, the referendum,” she added.
“But now the big questions have been settled about where power should lie, attention needs to turn to how those powers are used.
“We know that there is more that unites than divides us, and this New Year is the time to put old differences aside and work together to make a real difference.”