General election 2024: John Swinney launches SNP manifesto in Edinburgh with independence on first page

First Minister John Swinney has launched the SNP’s general election manifesto in Edinburgh, urging voters to “put Scotland’s interests first” by backing the Nationalists.

In line with the promise to put independence on page one, line one, the first page of the manifesto declares: "Vote SNP for Scotland to become an independent country."

John Swinney launched the SNP's general election manifesto. Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire | PA

And in his speech at the launch at Edinburgh Park, Mr Swinney said: “It is through independence therefore that we believe we can build the fairer country and the more prosperous economy we know is possible.

“Not independence for its own sake - independence for the powers to protect our NHS and to help people through tough times. Independence for a stronger economy, and happier, healthier lives. And independence for a better future for Scotland – made in Scotland – for Scotland.”

Ahead of the launch, the First Minister had claimed the SNP’s document setting out its policies was the only left-of-centre manifesto by any major party in the election.

It argues for and end to 14 years of austerity, reversing damaging cuts to public services, rejoining the EU to reverse the damage of Brexit and re-entering the single market, restoring free movement for EU citizens.

It proposes tackling by providing “urgent support for household finances” as well as scrapping the two child benefit cap and legislating for an “essentials guarantee” to ensure that everyone can afford basic necessities like food and utilities.

It calls for a reversal of the £1.3 billion Westminster cut to Scotland’s capital budget, to allow investment in new hospitals, schools, rail and road infrastructure and help to achieve net zero.

And it stresses the need to protect the NHS from privatisation and austerity. It says: “The UK Government should back our Bill to keep the NHS in public hands and boost NHS England funding by at least £16 billion each year, providing an extra £1.6 billion to NHS Scotland.”

The manifesto also proposes tackling the drugs death crisis by decriminalising drugs for personal use and introducing a framework to allow Supervised Drug Consumption Facilities.

It calls for the devolution of new borrowing powers to invest in a just transition to net zero and argues for the scrapping of the Rwanda scheme and the devolution of powers to create a bespoke migration system for Scotland that addresses the country’s specific demographic and economic needs.

Other policies include scrapping exploitative zero hours contracts, banning “fire and rehire” practices and repealing the Minimum Service Bill; and standing up for WASPI women by making sure the UK Government delivers full, fast and fair compensation for women wronged by pension inequality.

The SNP also wants to increase maternity pay by bringing the UK into line with other European countries and promoting shared parental leave, abolish the House of Lords and scrap Trident and invest the money in conventional defence and public services.

Mr Swinney said: “We are the only major party arguing for an end to the spending cuts - the arbitrary Tory fiscal rules, adopted by Labour, bake-in more eye-watering cuts - £18 billion of cuts.

“We will join with progressive politicians south of the border to press for greater funding for the NHS and for the UK government to match the pay deals we have given our health staff in Scotland. That would see an extra £1.6 billion for the NHS in Scotland.

“And we would introduce a “Keep the NHS in Public Hands Bill” at Westminster - a legal guarantee for a publicly owned, publicly operated health service.

“SNP MPs will press for the two-child benefit cap to be scrapped. The future of the two-child cap is a simple test - are you in government to help children out of poverty, or are you so morally lost, that you push more kids into poverty?”