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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| SNP manifesto launch: Sturgeon makes personal plea to voters | SNP manifesto launch: Sturgeon makes personal plea to voters |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Nicola Sturgeon has made a personal plea for voters to elect her as Scottish first minister as she launched the SNP's Holyrood election manifesto. | Nicola Sturgeon has made a personal plea for voters to elect her as Scottish first minister as she launched the SNP's Holyrood election manifesto. |
| The party goes into the election on 5 May hoping to secure a third consecutive term in government. | The party goes into the election on 5 May hoping to secure a third consecutive term in government. |
| It will be the first time Ms Sturgeon has led the party in a Scottish Parliament election. | It will be the first time Ms Sturgeon has led the party in a Scottish Parliament election. |
| The manifesto does not include a specific pledge to hold a second referendum on independence. | The manifesto does not include a specific pledge to hold a second referendum on independence. |
| But it promises to increase NHS funding by £500m more than inflation over the five years. | But it promises to increase NHS funding by £500m more than inflation over the five years. |
| Ms Sturgeon described this as "part of a package of investment and reform to equip the NHS for the future". | Ms Sturgeon described this as "part of a package of investment and reform to equip the NHS for the future". |
| The 72-page manifesto also includes a commitment to "baby boxes" full of essentials to parents of all newborns, and sets an ambitious new target to cut emissions by 50% by 2020 as part of the fight against climate change. | The 72-page manifesto also includes a commitment to "baby boxes" full of essentials to parents of all newborns, and sets an ambitious new target to cut emissions by 50% by 2020 as part of the fight against climate change. |
| Attainment gap | Attainment gap |
| And Ms Sturgeon said that the SNP would "open the doors of opportunity to all our young people", with a re-elected SNP government focused on doubling free childcare, reforming education, improving attainment and increasing access to university and training. | And Ms Sturgeon said that the SNP would "open the doors of opportunity to all our young people", with a re-elected SNP government focused on doubling free childcare, reforming education, improving attainment and increasing access to university and training. |
| The SNP leader said closing the attainment gap in education would form "the defining mission" of her next government if she is returned to power. | |
| She promised to invest £750m in education, with a focus on helping pupils from deprived backgrounds. | |
| Much of the focus ahead of the manifesto launch had been on what it would or would not say about the prospect of a second independence referendum. | Much of the focus ahead of the manifesto launch had been on what it would or would not say about the prospect of a second independence referendum. |
| Ms Sturgeon had previously said Holyrood should have the right to stage such a ballot "if there is clear and sustained evidence that independence has become the preferred option of a majority of the Scottish people" or if there is a "significant and material change" in circumstances. | Ms Sturgeon had previously said Holyrood should have the right to stage such a ballot "if there is clear and sustained evidence that independence has become the preferred option of a majority of the Scottish people" or if there is a "significant and material change" in circumstances. |
| This could, for example, be Scotland being taken out of the European Union against the wishes of Scottish voters. | This could, for example, be Scotland being taken out of the European Union against the wishes of Scottish voters. |
| The manifesto repeats Ms Sturgeon's assertion, and says that the party will start in the summer to build a new case for independence over the five-year term of the next parliament. | The manifesto repeats Ms Sturgeon's assertion, and says that the party will start in the summer to build a new case for independence over the five-year term of the next parliament. |
| Speaking as she launched the document, Ms Sturgeon said: "If there is to be a second referendum - whether that is in the next parliament or in a future parliament - we first have to earn the right to propose it. | Speaking as she launched the document, Ms Sturgeon said: "If there is to be a second referendum - whether that is in the next parliament or in a future parliament - we first have to earn the right to propose it. |
| "Setting the date for a referendum before a majority of the Scottish people have been persuaded that independence - and therefore another referendum - is the best future for our country is the wrong way round. | "Setting the date for a referendum before a majority of the Scottish people have been persuaded that independence - and therefore another referendum - is the best future for our country is the wrong way round. |
| "So this summer, we will start new work to persuade a majority in Scotland of the case for independence. If we don't succeed, we will have no right to propose another referendum." | "So this summer, we will start new work to persuade a majority in Scotland of the case for independence. If we don't succeed, we will have no right to propose another referendum." |
| 'Personal mandate' | 'Personal mandate' |
| Ms Sturgeon said the decision facing voters on 5 May was who should form the next government of Scotland and who should be the next first minister. | Ms Sturgeon said the decision facing voters on 5 May was who should form the next government of Scotland and who should be the next first minister. |
| She added: "That is what this election is about. It is not a battle for second place or a game of chance with the electoral system - it is about choosing a government and a first minister that you can trust to lead the country forward for the next five years and into a new decade. | She added: "That is what this election is about. It is not a battle for second place or a game of chance with the electoral system - it is about choosing a government and a first minister that you can trust to lead the country forward for the next five years and into a new decade. |
| "I am asking the Scottish people to give me a personal mandate to implement these policies and make our country even better." | "I am asking the Scottish people to give me a personal mandate to implement these policies and make our country even better." |
| Ms Sturgeon said she was proud of what the SNP had achieved in the past nine years as Scotland's government. | Ms Sturgeon said she was proud of what the SNP had achieved in the past nine years as Scotland's government. |
| She listed "record levels" of NHS investment, "record low" crime levels, free university education, same sex marriage and the referendum "that changed our nation forever" as being among the party's major achievements. | She listed "record levels" of NHS investment, "record low" crime levels, free university education, same sex marriage and the referendum "that changed our nation forever" as being among the party's major achievements. |
| She described the SNP manifesto as "brimming with ideas and policies to move the country forward". | She described the SNP manifesto as "brimming with ideas and policies to move the country forward". |
| And she said it was the "most ambitious programme for government that we have ever published ahead of a Scottish election". | And she said it was the "most ambitious programme for government that we have ever published ahead of a Scottish election". |
| She added: "This election is our opportunity to focus on the kind of country Scotland can be and who can provide the leadership to make it a reality." | She added: "This election is our opportunity to focus on the kind of country Scotland can be and who can provide the leadership to make it a reality." |
| 'Both votes' | 'Both votes' |
| Reiterating the party's "Both Votes SNP" strategy, Ms Sturgeon urged the party's supporters not to "play the lottery" by casting their second vote for another pro-independence party such as the Scottish Greens or Rise. | Reiterating the party's "Both Votes SNP" strategy, Ms Sturgeon urged the party's supporters not to "play the lottery" by casting their second vote for another pro-independence party such as the Scottish Greens or Rise. |
| She said: "If you want to see the SNP back in government on 6 May, vote SNP with both votes. | She said: "If you want to see the SNP back in government on 6 May, vote SNP with both votes. |
| "If you want me to be your first minister, with a clear mandate to lead Scotland forward, vote SNP with both votes. | "If you want me to be your first minister, with a clear mandate to lead Scotland forward, vote SNP with both votes. |
| "The simple truth is that nothing else will guarantee that outcome". | "The simple truth is that nothing else will guarantee that outcome". |
| Large queues formed outside the Edinburgh International Conference Centre ahead of the manifesto launch, which was expected to attract an audience of 1,400 guests. | Large queues formed outside the Edinburgh International Conference Centre ahead of the manifesto launch, which was expected to attract an audience of 1,400 guests. |
| The event was streamed live on the SNP's Youtube channel, and the manifesto will also be available through a specially-designed interactive app. | The event was streamed live on the SNP's Youtube channel, and the manifesto will also be available through a specially-designed interactive app. |