The Scottish Conservatives have estimated that Nicola Sturgeon's proposal for a four-day working week in Scotland would cost taxpayers £3 billion annually. The First Minister unveiled plans for a £10 million pilot scheme as part of the SNP's election manifesto, which also includes promises of free dental care and no income tax increases for five years.
According to the Scottish Tories, implementing a full four-day week across the entire public sector would require an additional 25% in staffing costs to cover services that need to operate five days a week, such as the NHS and the Scottish Prison Service. This would amount to £2.073 billion, with an extra £942 million needed for other services like schools, Police Scotland, and the fire service.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross accused the First Minister of presenting a 'fantasy wish list' that is not credible. He stated that the SNP's manifesto relies on 'fantasy economics' and is misleading voters in pursuit of another independence referendum.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) also expressed concerns about the feasibility of the SNP's spending pledges. Associate director David Phillips noted that paying for these commitments would require 'tricky trade-offs,' including tax rises or spending cuts in other areas. He added that an independent Scotland would face an even tougher fiscal situation, making the delivery of such promises more challenging.
