With the Scottish Parliament election now just over four months away, the leaders of Scotland's three largest political parties have launched their opening campaigns, setting out starkly different visions for the nation's future.
Independence, Competence, and Tax Cuts: The Core Pitches
First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney was the first to address supporters, speaking in Glasgow. He framed the upcoming May 7 election as a chance for a "fresh start" centred on independence. Swinney argued that securing an overall SNP majority at Holyrood would give Scotland the right to choose its own future in a second independence referendum.
He directly linked the party's majority win in 2011 to the 2014 referendum, setting his party the "ambitious task" of repeating that feat. Swinney claimed independence would be the best route to improving the NHS, cutting energy bills, and making daily life more affordable.
Meanwhile, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar positioned the contest as a direct fight between his party and the SNP. He accepted that the UK Labour government under Sir Keir Starmer had not "got everything right" but urged voters to look past their frustration. Sarwar pledged to spend a £1 million-plus election fund to oust Swinney, criticising the SNP's record on "failing public services" after nearly two decades in power.
Economic Battleground: Tax and the Cost of Living
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay insisted the election must be dominated by the cost-of-living crisis, which he identified as the public's top concern. He attacked both the SNP and Labour for imposing higher taxes to fund a growing benefits bill.
Findlay set out detailed tax proposals, pledging to increase income tax thresholds in line with inflation for every year of the next parliamentary term. His plans include cutting the rate for lower and middle earners to 19p and adjusting the threshold for the 42p rate for higher earners. He claimed these changes would save many Scottish workers £1,500 more in tax over the five-year Holyrood term, closing the "egregious tax gap" with the rest of the UK.
The Stakes for Scotland's Political Future
The coordinated speeches mark the effective starting gun for the intense campaign period ahead of the Holyrood ballot. With polls suggesting the SNP is on course for a potential fifth consecutive election victory, Sarwar acknowledged Scottish Labour are the underdogs but declared his belief that they can win.
Each leader's opening salvo has defined the key battle lines: the SNP's push for a renewed independence mandate, Labour's offer of "competence" and change from the SNP's long tenure, and the Conservatives' focus on economic pressures and tax cuts. The contrasting pledges set the stage for a fiercely contested election that will shape Scotland's direction for the next five years.
