FMQs: Recap as Humza Yousaf quizzed at Scottish Parliament over police officer cuts
Recap what happened at FMQs
FMQs: Recap as Humza Yousaf quizzed at Scottish Parliament over police officer cuts
Key Events
- Humza Yousaf faces FMQs as people go to the polls in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election
- This comes a day after Rishi Sunak scrapped HS2 and said he’d be investing £36 billion in other infrastructure projects around the UK
- We’re expecting the First Minister to be questioned on the £6.6 million cut to Creative Scotland’s funding
Bingo cards again - Humza Yousaf now blaming the issues Douglas Ross and Anas Sarwar are talking about on the “economic mismanagement” of the UK Government and said this is why Scotland should be independent.
Climate change
We’re now hearing from Green MSP Maggie Chapman who is talking about climate change. We had a piece in this morning’s paper on how climate change is impacting on salmon fish farming in Scotland for you to take a read of: https://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/climate-change-warm-seas-and-jellyfish-blamed-for-record-august-farmed-salmon-deaths-and-harvest-drop-4360145
Maggie Chapman says the recent hot temperatures seen over the summer are “gobsmackingly bananas, a bit like the Tory party conference this week”.
She says climate change also caused poverty and inequality - something Humza Yousaf says he agrees with as those in areas of multiple deprivation are impacted more greatly by climate change.
What’s happening on social media?
Let’s take a quick look at what’s happening over on social media to see how FMQs is going down - unsurprisingly, the Conservatives are jumping on the fact the First Minister had to apologise to Douglas Ross.
Culture and arts funding
Michelle Thomson now asking about the funding cuts to Creative Scotland.
Last week the Scottish Government cut £6.6m from their budget, which the organisation warns will lead to job losses and venue closures.
This morning our arts correspondent Brian Ferguson had a piece on Creative Scotland branding the revelation that the world cycling championships went £8m over budget a “concerning development” in culture funding: https://www.scotsman.com/whats-on/arts-and-entertainment/culture-secretary-admits-world-cycling-event-went-ps8m-over-budget-days-after-ps66m-arts-cut-was-revealed-4360579
Humza Yousaf says the government is committed to supporting culture and arts even when finances are constrained, because it is so valuable to everyone in Scotland and the rest of the world - but added if others had funds in their reserves they would be asked to help out.
Conservative MSP Donald Cameron then says this decision has caused “irreparable damage” to the arts sector’s trust in the government.
Humza Yousaf says it is “astonishing” Mr Cameron is talking about broken promises after his party scrapped HS2 and blamed the Conservatives from “decimating public finances”.
Sharon Dowey now asking about antisocial behaviour and thefts in retail business.
Humza Yousaf says Police Scotland is taking action on this and asks people to report these crimes to Police Scotland - a much calmer exchange on policing compared to the exchanges with Douglas Ross and Anas Sarwar.
Humza Yousaf says some of the increases in thefts are because people are stealing to eat, and poverty needs to be tackled if crime is to be sorted out - he says this is something the Conservatives need to learn.
Sharon Dowey is shaking her head at that answer, and Douglas Ross doesn’t look too happy about it either.
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