Ms. Sturgeon's speech was her first in Holyrood Hall since her final questions to the First Minister in March. Photo: Geoff J. Mitchell/Getty Images
Nicola Sturgeon admitted she was partly responsible for the hostile political debate between Scottish Unionists and Nationalists in her first Holyrood speech since leaving First Minister and being arrested.
< p>Ms Sturgeon, who was accused last year of using 'really dangerous' language after claiming to 'hate' Tories, said her perspective changed after she left the 'trenches of the political front' .
The former leader of the Scottish National Party claimed that «acrimony» helped create «paralysis of action» on major political issues in Scotland.
Instead, she called for «civility and respect» in political debate, arguing that this would lead to «creative tension» between the two parties, which could improve public policy and outcomes.
But then she raised the issue of independence, the issue that is most politically divisive in Scotland, arguing that the Unionists should maintain «gradual support for our powers» until complete separation was achieved.
To much laughter, Annabelle Ewing, Vice Chair, accidentally mentioned her as First Minister.
The SNP's popularity waned after Sturgeon's departure
Ms. Sturgeon's nearly eight-minute speech was her first speech in Holyrood Hall since her final questions to the First Minister on 23 March .
Police investigating SNP finances ransacked her home for two days in April and she was arrested in June. . The detectives released her pending further investigation, and she maintained her innocence of any wrongdoing.
The popularity of the SNP has declined markedly since her resignation. Another new poll showed the party going hand in hand with the Westminster Labor Party. 35 percent each.
Redfield & The Wilton Strategies poll, taken September 2-4, also showed that support for independence fell one point since August to 44 percent. Opposition rose one point to 49 percent, with the remainder undecided.
Ms. Sturgeon's first speech in Holyrood from the back pews came in a debate over the first government program of her successor Humza Yousaf, which was unveiled on Tuesday . .
While she acknowledged her bias, Ms. Sturgeon told MSP members, «I enthusiastically approve of this» and stated that it «strikes a good balance between making progress and opening up new horizons.»
But she said she wanted to end her speech by addressing “not so much what we do here, but how we do it.”
“Polarization in politics is very vicious”
“Before I If I do, let me say that I accept my share of responsibility for the state of our political discourse. But if anything makes me more determined, then I have to play my part in trying to change it,” she said.
“Polarization in politics is very vicious. It is the paralysis of action that this leads to that should worry us the most.”
Outlining «some principles that can guide us,» she said tough decisions are needed on issues such as climate change and inequality. quo» can't be ignored, but they also shouldn't have «an automatic veto on necessary changes.»
Appeal to Unionists support more powers for Holyrood, she said there should be «a recognition that we are not may simply want to achieve the goals of any policy change, we must also have the means to achieve results.»
She added that «differences are the essence of democracy», but argued that the way it is carried out can either create «abruptness and stalemate» or creative intensity «that allows us to achieve improvement for all.»
«I hope that the coming term will be characterized by the second rather than the first. If so, then Scotland will be the winner,” she concluded.
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