The Scottish National Party (SNP) has placed Scottish independence at the heart of its General Election manifesto, with First Minister John Swinney vowing to seek a new referendum if the party wins a majority of Scottish seats at Westminster. The manifesto states independence is on 'page one, line one', and Swinney committed to negotiating a referendum to give 'democratic effect' to an SNP majority. However, he repeatedly refused to clarify the party's stance if it fails to secure most seats north of the border on July 4.
Beyond independence, the SNP manifesto calls for the full devolution of tax powers, including over national insurance, to allow the Scottish Government to set progressive rates. The party also proposes widening the windfall tax to non-energy companies, cracking down on tax evasion, and reforming VAT—reducing it for hospitality and tourism and scrapping it for on-street electric vehicle charging. Current fiscal rules would be replaced with three new ones: a net worth test for infrastructure investments, three-year spending cycles, and an upper limit on debt servicing costs.
The SNP demands an immediate emergency budget from the next UK government to reverse public spending cuts and invest in green energy, as well as a reversal of cuts to Scotland's capital budget. The manifesto also commits to pushing for the UK to rejoin the EU, restoring freedom of movement and access to the Erasmus+ programme. On social policy, the party advocates for an 'essentials guarantee' to ensure affordability of basics, a social tariff for energy and broadband, and increased housing support.
In health, the SNP vows to table a bill to protect the NHS from privatisation and urges £10 billion in UK investment, with £1 billion in consequentials for Scotland. It also calls for matching NHS pay deals with Scotland, bringing £1.6 billion north of the border. On the green economy, the party insists on £28 billion annual investment—a figure previously dropped by Labour—with an equity stake in energy projects and an emergency budget for the energy sector. The SNP advocates an 'evidence-based' approach to oil and gas, case-by-case environmental assessments, and recognition of Grangemouth's importance, while ruling out new nuclear plants in Scotland.
The manifesto also demands devolution of employment rights and minimum wage powers to Scotland, enabling a ban on zero-hours contracts and a minimum wage rise in line with inflation. Paid maternity leave would increase to one year, with shared parental leave extended. The SNP's proposals aim to reshape fiscal, social, and energy policies while prioritising the path to Scottish independence.
