Hello conference! I am pleased to be able to talk to you today.

The Progressive Party has seen a meteoric rise since it was launched in late April. At the last general election we won 2 seats and we are in government in both Scotland and Wales despite being a relatively new party, which serves only to testify our meteoric rise with voters.

I have heard people criticise our decision to go into government with the Tories in Scotland. I myself was initially wary of entering a coalition with them but I agree with the decision we took. This is because during the coalition negotiations, the Conservatives have accepted many Progressive policies in multiple areas, such as in education and on the issue of cooperatives. We also secured a good cabinet deal, with us getting education, Deputy FM, Culture and Sport, Finance Minister and Communities. As Finance Minister it will be my job to work together with the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy to ensure that Scotland’s economy works for all Scots and on the Scottish government’s budget. Let us also look at the alternatives to our coalition: a rainbow-LPUK coalition wouldn’t have worked as those who have followed the recent events in Scottish politics might be aware, especially due to the ideological differences between the parties in this hypothetical coalition on economic issues. This means that the only viable alternative would have been Blurple, and I think it is clear why for us on the left a Progressive-Conservative coalition is preferable to a right-wing neoliberal one.