SNP members have set out a list of priorities they want to see in the party’s General Election manifesto.
Parties are expected to start launching their General Election manifestos from this week, after the deadline for nominating candidates passed on Friday.
The SNP – who have selected candidates for all of Scotland’s 57 seats, alongside Scottish Labour and the Scottish Conservatives – are under increasing pressure to commit to a just transition, as well as prioritising workers’ rights and the right for Scotland to determine its own constitutional future.
The SNP Trade Union Group (TUG), which represents SNP members in the trade union movement, has set out a list of recommendations from members it hopes to see appear in the party’s Westminster manifesto.
The group also called for no new exploration or exploitation of oil and gas, and for Scotland’s devolved powers to be protected.
Whilst there is no set deadline for a manifesto to be published, there are only 24 days to go until the polls open – meaning parties will want to get their pitch to voters out sooner rather than later.
So what is this SNP group asking for?
The right and power for Scotland to decide politically and economically
The group wants this to be based on recognition and endorsement of the position of the Scottish trade union movement in backing Scotland’s right to choose its constitutional future, and for this to be aligned with the demand for economic and tax powers to enable the democratically elected Scottish Government to pursue policies voted for by the Scottish people.
Protecting and extending devolved powers
In addition to not using the Internal Markets Act to block legislation in Scotland, the group aims to extend that to a firm commitment to strengthening the Sewel Convention and removing the "not normally" clause from that Convention.
The group added: “Westminster should never intervene in devolved powers without permission.”
Devolution of workers’ rights legislation
This includes an EU style principle that the UK should have a minimum floor for workers’ rights, with the devolved governments being able to raise rights from that floor.
Opposition to anti-strike, anti-trade union and anti-protest legislation
In addition to this, the group also seeks a “firm commitment” to the Human Rights Act and the ECHR.
A 'strong presumption' that all utilities should be public owned
As well as being not-for-profit the group said they should, where possible, be free at the point of use. This would include health, care, energy, water and public transport.
While many of these are already devolved to Scotland, the group argued there needs be agreement about the tax and Barnett reforms required to allow this to happen, along with the economic and tax powers to underwrite it.
Climate action and just transition
The group said policy in this area should be based on investment in a real Green New Deal, with support for the devolved governments to push ahead in their own areas.
This must be based on increased borrowing powers, they said, allowing Scotland to follow Wales in creating a renewables and asset-based energy production company as part of Scotland’s own industrial and energy policy.
“We should also seek a pledge from the incoming government at Westminster to stop using the Internal Market Act to block climate initiatives,” the group added.
Regarding oil and gas, the group said the presumption should be against any new exploration and exploitation, and the use of existing resources to support an urgently needed worker- and community-led just transition to protect and transition jobs and local economies.
