Thank you, Presiding Officer. I will keep my opening remarks relatively brief.

First, I thank Ruth Davidson for her candidacy today. I suspect that I am correct in saying that there is not much that she and I agree on, but I think that we probably will agree today that having two women contest the post of First Minister is a great advert for our modern country. [Applause.]

Only a matter of weeks ago, I would not have imagined that I would be seeking nomination today as the First Minister of Scotland. To be doing so is a great honour and an immense responsibility. The boots that I seek to fill are big ones, but I will do my best to wear them in my own way. In seeking to become not just the First Minister but the first woman First Minister of our country, I am very aware of the additional responsibility that I will carry if elected: the responsibility to help every woman and girl in our country fulfil their own potential.

It is fair to say that recent political events have surprised all of us. In the run-up to the referendum—and, indeed, since—democracy in Scotland has flourished as never before. We hear all too often that people have disconnected from politics, but the 85 per cent turnout that we saw in September shows that here in Scotland the reverse is true. People are more engaged than ever in our political process and they have high expectations that we in this Parliament will meet their needs and aspirations. Put bluntly, their hopes are in our hands; it is our responsibility as a Parliament and as a Government to ensure that we meet them. That presents us with challenges, but also with tremendous opportunities. There is no better service that we can give Scotland than to improve the prospects of her people.

If Parliament elects me to be First Minister, I will work with each and every member to make Scotland a better, fairer and more socially just place for all. Although we may differ on the best way of achieving that goal—those of us who believe in independence and those of us who do not—I know that that is a commitment that all members will share and do their very best to uphold.

We live in a new era of Scottish democracy. Those whom we represent expect us to give our very best, and we—all of us—must ensure that we do not disappoint them. They expect to see us debate vigorously, but they do not want us to divide rancorously. So let us work together to create a future for Scotland that is worthy of their dreams and their trust.

I ask for the support of Parliament for my candidacy to be First Minister of and for all of Scotland—a First Minister who will always have big ambitions for this country and who, day in and day out, will apply herself to the job of protecting our public services, supporting our businesses and tackling inequality.

I am ready and willing to take on those responsibilities. There is a big job to be done. With Parliament’s approval, I look forward now to getting on and doing it.