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Nicola Sturgeon launches 'ambitious and reforming' SNP manifesto Nicola Sturgeon launches 'ambitious and reforming' SNP manifesto
(about 1 hour later)
Nicola Sturgeon has launched her “job application” for a historic third term in government for the SNP – and her first electoral mandate as party leader – with a manifesto focusing on education, health, training and innovation, with a promise to decentralise public services and use new powers coming to Holyrood to fight Tory austerity.Nicola Sturgeon has launched her “job application” for a historic third term in government for the SNP – and her first electoral mandate as party leader – with a manifesto focusing on education, health, training and innovation, with a promise to decentralise public services and use new powers coming to Holyrood to fight Tory austerity.
Introducing what she described as the most ambitious programme for government her party had ever published, Sturgeon said: “Our manifesto is a document brimming with ideas and policies to move the country forward and use new powers to create a fairer, more equal society.”Introducing what she described as the most ambitious programme for government her party had ever published, Sturgeon said: “Our manifesto is a document brimming with ideas and policies to move the country forward and use new powers to create a fairer, more equal society.”
“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.”“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.”
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Setting out her “bold, ambitious and reforming” programme, Sturgeon pledged to increase investment in the NHS by £500m more than inflation by the end of the next parliament – funded through not passing on George Osborne’s tax cut for higher rate tax payers, with a further £500m going directly to headteachers to tackle the attainment gap. Setting out her “bold, ambitious and reforming” programme, Sturgeon pledged to increase investment in the NHS by £500m more than inflation by the end of the next parliament – funded by not passing on George Osborne’s tax cut for higher-rate taxpayers, with a further £500m going directly to headteachers to tackle the attainment gap.
The manifesto also promises to double childcare to 30 hours a week for three- and four-year-olds, and create a new Scottish social security agency to administer Holyrood’s new welfare powers “with fairness and dignity at its core”.The manifesto also promises to double childcare to 30 hours a week for three- and four-year-olds, and create a new Scottish social security agency to administer Holyrood’s new welfare powers “with fairness and dignity at its core”.
She added that an SNP government would also use the new powers to abolish the bedroom tax, restore housing benefit for 18-21-year-olds, and increase the carer’s allowance to the same level as jobseeker’s allowance.She added that an SNP government would also use the new powers to abolish the bedroom tax, restore housing benefit for 18-21-year-olds, and increase the carer’s allowance to the same level as jobseeker’s allowance.
On tax, while insisting that “we will not ask those on low and middle incomes to pay the price of Tory austerity through higher taxes,” and saying “we will expect those on higher incomes to shoulder more of the burden”, Sturgeon had already signalled that she would not repeat her pledge from last year’s Westminster manifesto to introduce a 50p tax on those earning more than £150,000 a year. On tax, Sturgeon insisted that “we will not ask those on low and middle incomes to pay the price of Tory austerity through higher taxes,” and said “we will expect those on higher incomes to shoulder more of the burden”. She had already signalled that she would not repeat her pledge from last year’s Westminster manifesto to introduce a 50p tax on those earning more than £150,000 a year.
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On independence, the manifesto stuck with the same form of words that the SNP leader has been using since the autumn: that there will be no second referendum until 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 the circumstances” since 2014, such as Brexit against Scotland’s wishes. On independence, the manifesto stuck with the same form of words that the SNP leader has been using since the autumn: that there will be no second referendum until there is “clear and sustained evidence that independence has become the preferred option of a majority of the Scottish people”, or if there has been a “significant and material change in the circumstances” since 2014, such as Brexit against Scotland’s wishes.
Significantly, this is the first time for nearly two decades that the SNP manifesto for Holyrood has not included an explicit commitment and timetable for a referendum.Significantly, this is the first time for nearly two decades that the SNP manifesto for Holyrood has not included an explicit commitment and timetable for a referendum.
At what was advertised as the “largest manifesto event in Scotland”, 1,400 invited guests crowded into a cavernous hall in Edinburgh’s International Conference Centre to hear Sturgeon speak.At what was advertised as the “largest manifesto event in Scotland”, 1,400 invited guests crowded into a cavernous hall in Edinburgh’s International Conference Centre to hear Sturgeon speak.
With the single word “re-elect” projected above the stage, and wristbands bearing the social media slogan ‘#bothvotesSNP’, Sturgeon took the opportunity to drive home her message that the choice on 5 May was a simple one about “who should form the next government of Scotland and who should be the next first minister”.With the single word “re-elect” projected above the stage, and wristbands bearing the social media slogan ‘#bothvotesSNP’, Sturgeon took the opportunity to drive home her message that the choice on 5 May was a simple one about “who should form the next government of Scotland and who should be the next first minister”.
While speculation is rife about whether the Conservatives will overtake Scottish Labour to become the official opposition in Holyrood, and with smaller pro-independence parties jockeying for the second regional votes of SNP supporters, she warned against “playing the lottery with your second vote”.While speculation is rife about whether the Conservatives will overtake Scottish Labour to become the official opposition in Holyrood, and with smaller pro-independence parties jockeying for the second regional votes of SNP supporters, she warned against “playing the lottery with your second vote”.
“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 the next decade.” Sturgeon said: “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 the next decade.”