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Holyrood 2016: Parties campaign on education and tax | Holyrood 2016: Parties campaign on education and tax |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The Holyrood election campaign has resumed after the Easter weekend with the parties focused on the future. | |
Five political leaders campaigned in and around Edinburgh before their second televised debate. | |
The Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats concentrated on education, while SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon unveiled her plans to help more young people into work. | |
The Scottish Greens announced plans to reform income tax and end council tax. | The Scottish Greens announced plans to reform income tax and end council tax. |
The leaders are due to go head-to-head in a second televised debate broadcast on STV later. | |
Last week they clashed on the issue of income tax during a BBC Scotland debate ahead of the Holyrood election. | Last week they clashed on the issue of income tax during a BBC Scotland debate ahead of the Holyrood election. |
During a visit to a community cafe in Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon outlined her plan for a £100 jobs grant to 16-24 year olds who have been unemployed for more than six months, with a larger grant available to young couples. | |
She said: "We will use the new powers coming to the Scottish Parliament to support Scotland's young people and to grow our economy. | |
"I want to see all our young people start their working lives with the best possible opportunities and an equal chance of success." | "I want to see all our young people start their working lives with the best possible opportunities and an equal chance of success." |
Labour's Kezia Dugdale focussed on education, highlighting a drop in probationer teachers since the SNP first came to power. | |
She said: "Nicola Sturgeon claims that education is the defining priority of her government, but reality of her record just does not reflect that. | She said: "Nicola Sturgeon claims that education is the defining priority of her government, but reality of her record just does not reflect that. |
"Labour will ask those earning more than £150,000 a year to pay a bit more in tax so we can stop the cuts and invest in our schools." | "Labour will ask those earning more than £150,000 a year to pay a bit more in tax so we can stop the cuts and invest in our schools." |
Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson set out her early years education commitments during a nursery visit. | Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson set out her early years education commitments during a nursery visit. |
She said: "The SNP has singularly failed to make any progress on narrowing the attainment gap, despite having sole control over education for almost a decade. | She said: "The SNP has singularly failed to make any progress on narrowing the attainment gap, despite having sole control over education for almost a decade. |
"Standards of literacy and numeracy in Scotland among young people have been allowed to slip - the Scottish Conservatives would place reversing that trend at the absolute heart of education policy." | "Standards of literacy and numeracy in Scotland among young people have been allowed to slip - the Scottish Conservatives would place reversing that trend at the absolute heart of education policy." |
The Liberal Democrat's Willie Rennie took his penny on income tax for education pledge to the streets. | |
He said: "Liberal Democrats have set out clear plans for education, with a transformational investment of half a billion pounds a year for nurseries, schools and colleges. | He said: "Liberal Democrats have set out clear plans for education, with a transformational investment of half a billion pounds a year for nurseries, schools and colleges. |
"My challenge to the other parties ahead of this debate is clear: they need to match our ambition and build a Scotland that is fit for the future." | "My challenge to the other parties ahead of this debate is clear: they need to match our ambition and build a Scotland that is fit for the future." |
Tax reform | Tax reform |
Ahead of the latest debate, Patrick Harvie of the Scottish Greens unveiled proposals for new income tax rates for Scotland's highest earners. | Ahead of the latest debate, Patrick Harvie of the Scottish Greens unveiled proposals for new income tax rates for Scotland's highest earners. |
The party's plans would see income tax reduced for those earning under £26,500 once Holyrood gets power over rates and bands in April 2017. | The party's plans would see income tax reduced for those earning under £26,500 once Holyrood gets power over rates and bands in April 2017. |
He also set out his party's plans to scrap the existing council tax and replace it with a residential property tax based on up-to-date values. | |
A Scottish Green spokesman said: "With new powers over income tax rates and bands, now is the time for Holyrood to be bold and raise revenue to reverse cuts and tackle inequality. | A Scottish Green spokesman said: "With new powers over income tax rates and bands, now is the time for Holyrood to be bold and raise revenue to reverse cuts and tackle inequality. |
"Our plans will show that for that bolder Holyrood, more Green MSPs are essential. | "Our plans will show that for that bolder Holyrood, more Green MSPs are essential. |