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Independence is not an end in itself. It is the means by which we
can build the kind of nation we aspire to govern. These are the
values which would guide us in government and which have shaped and
influenced the development of our policies.
Our values
These are the values which have shaped and influenced the
development of SNP policies, and which now guide us in the Scottish
Government.
1. No one country and no one human being is worth more or less
than any other. We believe in the right of sovereign peoples to
self-determination.
We believe that Scotland should be an independent country,
equal with other countries in Europe and the world. We are committed
to co-operation amongst nations in pursuit of peaceful co- existence
and the creation of a stable international community. We believe
nations must be free to decide how they co-operate to create
economic prosperity, deliver social justice and protect the
environment. We affirm our commitment to the Charter of the United
Nations, and its demand that all nations protect and assert the
human rights of the individual. The SNP is committed to the
principle of equality of opportunity. That means the prohibition of
discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, age, sexuality,
faith, belief, ability, status or social background in the exercise
of constitutional rights. The SNP's commitment to equality of
opportunity demands an end to poverty and in particular to child
poverty, which blights the life-chances of so many young people of
Scotland.
2. Empowering the people of Scotland - so that the people can
take control over their lives and communities.
The SNP believes that decisions affecting the lives of
individuals are best taken closest to the individuals who will be
affected by those decisions and is committed to the greatest
possible diffusion of democratic power, participation and
responsibility to individuals and communities in Scotland. Public
services must be run for the benefit of the communities and
individuals they serve, not private concerns, and there should be
transparency and accountability to those local communities in the
delivery of these services. No-one can be truly empowered while
feeling unsafe in their home and in their community. The SNP is
therefore committed to enforcing the right of every citizen to live
in peace and without fear from those who abuse the privileges of a
democratic society.
3. The sustainable creation and sharing of wealth in order to
give every individual the opportunity to release their full
potential.
The SNP recognizes the necessity for Scotland to compete in the
global economy and for the creation of wealth to be sustainable. We
must steward the natural environment and resources of our country to
ensure our economic success is not at the expense of future
generations. We are committed to significantly improving Scotland's
economic growth by placing Scotland at a competitive advantage,
allowing the talent of the people of Scotland to flourish and for
the potential of our country to be released. We will equip the
people of Scotland with the skills and education required to ensure
long-term individual and national economic success. We believe those
who have retired from work should share fairly in the national
wealth they have helped to create. We believe in simplicity,
transparency, fairness and honesty in the taxation and benefits
system. Tax will be levied and benefits distributed in accordance
with the principle that the system must be fair and progressive.
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