Vote SNP for bold action on the cost of living and our NHS

Friends,

It’s great to be back in Glasgow this morning.

A proud city, a welcoming city, an SNP city.

We are here today to talk about Scotland’s future.

Every time I go on the road, I am struck by how much we have going for us as a country.

So many strengths. So much innovation.

We are truly blessed to call Scotland home.

In the two years since becoming First Minister, I have dedicated every single day to improving the lives of the people of Scotland.

When I took office, I promised I would deliver for Scotland.

Falling waiting times, more operations, GP walk-in clinics.
Frozen rail fares, peak rail fares abolished.

Child poverty down and winter fuel payments restored.

Friends, I keep my promises.

That is my record.

It’s a record I am proud to take to the people of Scotland.

But make no mistake – I am only just getting started.

At the outset of my comments today, I want to be clear that a vote for the SNP on 7th May is a vote to put Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands.
For a referendum on independence where Scotland can make our enormous wealth work for our people.

A referendum where bringing down people’s energy bills will be on the ballot.

A referendum that will allow Scotland to reclaim our place at the heart of Europe.

A referendum that I intend to win.

Today, I am delighted to publish the SNP’s election manifesto.

It is called “On Scotland’s side.” Because that is who we are and how we act.

The SNP is Scotland’s National Party.

Rural, urban, north, south, east, west, island, mainland…

This is a manifesto for every – every – part of Scotland.

While others in this election seek to divide communities, target minorities, and talk our country down.

This is a manifesto that brings people together and unashamedly talks Scotland up.
A manifesto for all of Scotland.

That’s what you get if you vote SNP on 7th May.

A government on Scotland’s side.

And a First Minister that will always put Scotland first.

Friends,

I know that times are tough out there.

Food prices have shot up.

Household bills are soaring.

And filling the tank now empties your pocket.

In energy rich Scotland, people can’t afford to heat their homes.

In a country with more renewable power than we can use, our bills are soaring.

And in a country, where oil and gas has sent 350 billion pounds to Westminster, a Labour Government tried to rob our pensioners of their heating allowance.

Friends, the problem is not that we don’t have the energy.

The problem is that Westminster has the power.

This election is our opportunity to take those powers and put them into Scotland’s hands.

Lower bills, more jobs, a greener future.

That is what you get when you vote SNP on 7th May.

The cost of living is the defining issue of this election.

And it defines the SNP’s plans for Scotland.

But friends, this cost of living crisis – and Westminster’s complete failure to get a grip of it – demands that we do everything we can.

In recent weeks, we’ve been setting out some of the bold and ambitious measures a re-elected SNP Government will introduce.

For people trying to buy their first home, we’ll help you onto the property ladder with £10,000 towards your deposit.

For private renters, the right of first refusal to buy your home if it goes on sale.

For parents, we’ll intensify Scotland’s childcare revolution.

Extending support, over the next parliament, to every child in the country from 9 months old to the end of Primary School – all year round.

And we’ll build on the success of the baby box, with a new ‘welcome to school’ bag

Friends,

Concessionary travel has been one of the great success stories of the SNP’s time in office and we are going to protect the existing schemes

But in this cost of living crisis – and as we face a climate emergency – it’s time to go further and be bolder.

People need to be able to afford to get to their work.

To go out and see friends.

To get about.

From Hamilton – to get here today by bus, would cost more than 7 pounds.

From Paisley – it would cost 6 pounds.

From Dumbarton – it would cost 9 pounds 30. These costs are too high.

So I can today announce that, if re-elected, an SNP Government will cap bus fares at £2 in every part of Scotland.

Cheaper travel and more money in your pocket – that’s what you get with a government on Scotland’s side

That’s what you get by voting SNP on 7th May.

Friends,

The cost of living is hammering people, no more so than when they get to the supermarket till.

Inflation has come down, but prices have not.

People are, quite simply, struggling to afford food.

In a rich country like Scotland that is a moral outrage.

For some, the cost of food is so high, it is hitting their health and wellbeing.

Now, with the current powers of our Parliament, I cannot normally set prices at the till.

But things have got so tough, it is now impacting upon our nation’s nutrition.

That is a public health issue – and I have public health powers.

And so, I can announce today that, if re-elected, your SNP government will use our Public Health powers to set a maximum price for essential food items.

Reducing the price of the weekly shop.

Putting more money in people’s pockets.

Bread, milk, cheese.

Eggs, rice, chicken.

Everyday items that make up a decent diet.

Necessities that should never be beyond anyone’s means.

That’s what you get with a government on Scotland’s side

That’s what you get by voting SNP on 7th May.

Friends,

The NHS is our most important public service.

We have a plan to make our NHS fit for the future – with three parts.

Investment, protection and renewal.

Investment that will see every penny of NHS resource consequentials going to health and care.

Investment that will deliver a real-terms increase in health and care spending.

Protection –

Of the NHS principles of comprehensive, universal and free at the point of need,

And mark my words – never selling patient data to dodgy billionaires and the Palantirs of this world.

And renewal –

That means changing how the NHS works, refocusing resources on keeping people out of hospital, shifting the balance of care.

It means, for instance, giving people heart and lung MOTs in community settings across Scotland.

And, of course, action to end the 8am rush for GP appointments, as we continue to roll out GP walk-in clinics.

That’s what you get when you vote SNP on 7th May – a government that is always on the side of Scotland’s NHS

Friends,

We have a duty to properly fund our NHS and all our public services – and we do.

Delivering on that duty starts by growing the economy.

Growth pays for the services we need and builds the Scotland we all want.

So, I make this pledge to you today:

My Government – your SNP Government – will put growing our economy, getting people into work and building our national prosperity at its very heart.

We are not just competing within the UK for investment.

With the SNP, Scotland competes internationally for investment.

We know that international events, inflation and the drag of being part of the UK is likely to hit the economy.

So we must respond by hitting the accelerator.

If we are re-elected, we will create a Major Projects Office to cut through bureaucracy and speed up investment in nationally significant projects.

It will get decisions taken quickly and make sure Scotland grabs the critical investment opportunities out there.

To make Scotland the best place in Europe to start and scale a business, we will establish a ‘High Growth Unit’ to identify fast-growth businesses and give them the wraparound support they need to succeed.

And, to help every business grow, the length and breadth of the country, we will reform the planning system, speeding up decision making.

Friends, Scotland has massive opportunities in industries like energy and tech, world class colleges and universities and a highly-skilled workforce.

I want to use every single lever available to the Scottish Government to boost economic growth, support innovation and attract investment.

That’s what you get by voting SNP on 7th May – a country with a government focused on jobs, growth and success.

So, this is our offer to the people of Scotland.

Growth at the heart of government.

Action on the climate.

A determination to eradicate child poverty.

A cost of living package unrivalled anywhere in the UK.

New help for first time buyers

A massive expansion in childcare.

A nationwide £2 bus fare cap

Fair food prices

Shorter waiting times

More appointments and operations

And walk-in GP clinics on high streets across Scotland. Open seven days a week.

That’s what you get when you vote SNP on 7th May.

But more than that – a
re-elected SNP Government will deliver:
150,000 apprenticeships

A teacher jobs guarantee – and mobile phones banned in the classroom.

Investment to improve our roads and fix potholes

A 25% increase in our international development funding.

More support for start-ups and scale up businesses.

A £75 million housing fund for our rural and islands communities

A vape display ban.

A Private Jet Tax

A Mansion Tax

And the proceeds of ScotWind invested in Scotland’s very own wealth fund.

That is what you get when you vote SNP on 7th May.

Friends, that is the policy prospectus the SNP offers the people of Scotland.

But I offer more than that.

My entire adult life has been spent in the service of this country. I have given that calling my everything.

Today, I offer to do more. To serve more.

To use all I have learned in leadership to secure the best future for Scotland.

These are troubling and uncertain times. The world is riven by conflict.

More than 20 years ago, I marched against Labour’s illegal war in Iraq.

I marched for international law, and for the principles of peace and democracy.

20 years later, I stand by those principles.

I stand against despots and dictators.

I stand against nuclear weapons that have no place on our shores and make us all less safe.

I stand for international justice, and for Scotland raising her voice for those who do not have one.

At this moment Scotland needs experienced, principled, reliable leadership in the highest office in the land and that is what I offer this country.

In this election, I am asking people to give me the mandate to act always with, and for, the people who live here.

When I became First Minister, I promised to serve all of the people of Scotland.

I reaffirm that promise today and commit to creating the best future I can for our country.

The best future I can, with the powers we have right now. Stretching them to their very limit.

But working to build the very best Scotland with the powers of independence.

And that is why, my call at this election is for us all to unite.

Unite to secure the powers we need.

Unite to make Scotland’s voice heard.

Unite to win a referendum on independence.

We won a majority in 2011 – and we can do it again.

On May 7th, your first vote is for an SNP government that will deliver more cost-of-living support, a stronger NHS, and a stronger economy.

But it is by trusting us also with your second vote that the SNP can win a majority, a majority that will secure a referendum.

A referendum that we will win.

On 7th May,

Vote SNP for a government on Scotland’s side.

Vote SNP for the trusted, experienced leadership that I offer as First Minister.

Vote SNP for bold action on the cost of living and on our health service.

Vote SNP for hope over despair.

https://www.snp.org/vote-snp-for-bold-action-on-the-cost-of-living-and-our-nhs/