JOHN Swinney has launched the SNP's General Election manifesto with a pledge to "deliver independence" and put "the interests of the people of Scotland first".
With just a few weeks to go until voters head to the polls, Swinney has laid out his party's priorities in his first manifesto launch since becoming First Minister.
You can read the full speech delivered in Edinburgh this morning below.
John Swinney's full election manifesto launch speech
Good morning – and welcome to the launch of the SNP manifesto for the 2024 Westminster election.
This election takes place at a time when people are hurting.The aftermath of Covid has left scars amongst our people.
The cost of living crisis has meant people are worried about their future and the wellbeing of their loved ones.
We are living in a period of rapid change where new technology, the climate emergency and the implications of an ageing population will all have a profound impact on the way we live our lives in the future.
Given this atmosphere of turmoil, more than ever I believe political leaders and political parties need a set of values as a foundation from which to respond to those challenges.
I believe people are crying out for principled leadership which is prepared to argue for what it believes in.
So today, as I launch the SNP manifesto for the 2024 General Election, let me set out the core values of the Scottish National Party that anchor our proposition to the people of Scotland.
We are a moderate left of centre party in the mainstream of Scottish public opinion, firmly rooted in the ideas of inclusion and internationalism.
We will always put the interests of people in Scotland first – wherever our people were born; wherever our people come from.
And at the very heart of our beliefs is the principle that decisions about Scotland should be made by the people who live in Scotland.
Why? For the simple reason that no-one else cares as much about this wonderful country, and no-one else will do a better job of taking care of it, now and in the future, than the people who live here.
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.
It is those values that govern our overall approach and the content of this manifesto.So let me outline the choice the SNP offers to the people of Scotland at this election.
First and foremost, 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 pounds of cuts.
The SNP manifesto argues for new, sensible fiscal rules. Rules that will: end the cuts, reverse the 1.3 billion pounds cut to Scotland’s capital budget, and invest in public services, starting with the Health Service.
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.
The SNP message on the health services is clear, it is simple and it will never change.
The NHS is not for sale.
Voting SNP is a vote to protect our public services and our precious NHS.
Friends,I have made clear the focus of my Government will be to eradicate child poverty.
The 2-child benefit cap makes things worse.
It is the exact opposite of what the UK government should be doing.
Introduced by an uncaring Conservative Government, it is frankly beyond me that the prospective Labour Government plan, to keep this deeply damaging policy.
SNP MPs will press for the 2-child benefit cap to be scrapped.
Colleagues, the future of the 2 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?
Our choice – to abolish the cap – is obvious and it is driven by our values.
The same values that drive the SNP on so many issues, not least nuclear weapons.
We will demand an end to the obscene waste of billions of pounds on a new generation of weapons of mass destruction.
And, while we are talking about waste, SNP MPs will demand that the House of Lords is abolished.
Our values, Scotland’s choices.
Elected government not ermine clad cronies
.Lift the 2-child cap not the cap on bankers’ bonuses.
Bairns not bombs.
And, investment not cuts.
I believe these choices represent the values most of us share.
They are Scotland’s values.
And a vote for the SNP – a vote for this manifesto – is a vote for those values.
Friends, every election is a choice.
Over recent years, the outrageous Westminster power grab has been designed to reduce the choices Scotland can make for itself.
That must stop.
The devolution-busting Internal Market Act must be revoked.
Westminster routinely passing laws in devolved areas without the consent of the Scottish Parliament must end.
For Scotland’s workers we will support the end of exploitative zero hours contracts, the unacceptable practice of fire and rehire, and we will fight to scrap the so-called Minimum Services Level Act which is an attack on the right to strike.
Fighting against Westminster austerity cuts, for our NHS, for better working conditions and against the Westminster power grab.
Working whenever we can with others to promote practical, moderate left of centre policies – that is what we are offering the people of Scotland at this election.
The SNP will stand up for Scotland at Westminster, and put Scotland’s interests first.
But we know the Westminster system is broken – no matter how much we try to mitigate its impact.
I think most people in Scotland know that.So our ambition is to transfer power from Westminster and into the hands of the people of Scotland.
Taking decisions in Scotland, for Scotland works.
Using the limited powers of the Scottish Parliament has had a real impact on people’s lives.
The SNP has introduced a more progressive tax system to help fund the NHS and other public services.
We’ve delivered the best performing core A and E services in the UK for nearly 10 years.
We’re helping with the cost of living through free prescriptions, all day off-peak rail travel and free bus travel for young people.
We’ve overseen a massive expansion in renewable energy and are already half way towards net zero.
We’ve delivered many more affordable houses, per head of population, than England or Wales.I know, however, that we must constantly strive to strengthen our work in transforming the lives of people of Scotland.
Through measures such as the Scottish Child Payment we’re keeping an estimated 100,000 children out of poverty.
That is the SNP in government at Holyrood – working day in, day out to earn and re-earn the trust of people in Scotland.
We will not always get everything right but we will always put the interests of Scotland first.
The UK is going in a different direction – the wrong direction.
Far too often the interests of Scotland are ignored altogether.
I’ve spoken a lot in this campaign about the A B and C of Westminster imposed austerity cuts, Brexit and the cost of living crisis.
Scotland wanted none of that.But they were imposed anyway.
So today I want to introduce a D to that list: democracy.
With independence, people in Scotland will always get the governments they vote for.
That’s how democracy should work: engaging in respectful persuasion, taking account of everyone’s view, working together wherever possible in the national interest,
And it is through the power of democracy that we will win our independence.
There is no other way.
We must never lose faith in the power of the democratic voice of the people of Scotland.
In 2021 they voted for a Scottish Parliament with a clear majority for independence and for a referendum.
That democratic choice must be respected.
At this election we have the opportunity to reinforce the case for Scotland becoming an independent country.
It is the substance of the case that will take us there.
That starts with the economy.Scotland has resources and talent in abundance.
We have extraordinary energy resources.
A world-class food and drink sector.
An incredible tourism offering.
Brilliant universities.
Thriving financial services and creative industries.
And we are the forefront of the industries of the future such as offshore wind power.
Since coming to office the SNP has grown both productivity and the Scottish economy faster per head than the UK.
But most economic powers lie with Westminster.
And the UK economy is failing far too many people.
In an independent Scotland we could be back in the EU – for the first time as an equal member in our own right.
We would be part of the huge Single Market, which by population is seven times the size of the UK.We would enjoy once again the benefits of European freedom of movement – vital for so many Scottish businesses.
Our young people would have the opportunity again to study and work freely across Europe.
And in turn we would welcome our fellow Europeans to Scotland.
The SNP has funded one of Europe’s finest programmes dedicated to the creation of high growth businesses.
With a potential market of 450 million people in the Single Market, think of the massive opportunity for further growth.
Of course, an independent Scotland, like all countries would face challenges.
Success would not be guaranteed.
That would be determined by our own decisions as a country and the choice we make.
But when we look at independent European countries similar to Scotland there are grounds for optimism and hope.
Countries like Denmark, Ireland and Sweden are wealthier per head than the UK.
They are fairer with lower inequality.
They have higher productivity – the key driver of living standards.
And they have lower poverty.
So with all our resources; all our talent, with everything we have to offer and all our ambition – why not Scotland?
In an independent Scotland people would have a constitutional right to access a system of health care free at the point of need.
The threat of creeping Westminster privatisation would be over for good.
Staffing in our health and care services would not be subject to a hostile Westminster migration policy.
And our public services would not be subject to disastrous Westminster austerity policies.
So never let anyone tell you that independence is separate from people’s daily concerns.
It is fundamental to those concerns.
It is about where decisions about Scotland are made.
Decisions over our economy.
Our health service.
Our living standards.
So on July the 4th I am asking you to vote SNP.I’m asking you to vote SNP to put the interests of people in Scotland first
.I’m asking you to vote SNP for a future made in Scotland - for Scotland.
Thank you.
