The Scottish Parliament election on 7 May is shaping up as a contest with starkly different framings depending on which party wins. The SNP’s manifesto is built around a dual pitch: competence in government and constitutional change through independence.
The SNP has governed since 2007 and held office throughout the devolution period. John Swinney became First Minister two years ago and has repositioned the party around “delivery” and “competence” – fixing NHS waiting times, improving school standards, tackling cost-of-living crisis. This is a calculated reset from the independence-focused positioning of previous years.
Simultaneously, the SNP is explicit that a second SNP vote is a mandate for an independence referendum. This dual positioning – competence in devolved powers + constitutional ambition –creates a tension that runs through the manifesto. It allows the SNP to claim credit for public service improvements whilst arguing that independence is necessary to unlock Scotland’s full potential.
The SNP’s manifesto is built around three pillars: investment and delivery on devolved powers (health, education, support for families), economic growth and jobs, and independence as the necessary condition for Scotland to fully control its future.
The key consideration is this: the SNP will almost certainly remain the governing party. The question is whether they govern with an outright majority (enabling an independence referendum) or fall short (creating coalition or confidence-and-supply dynamics). Current polling suggests a majority is possible, but unexpected shifts (low turnout, tactical voting, late swings) could change this. Either way, SNP policy and framing will dominate.
The manifesto commits to a 50-point programme covering health, cost of living, childcare, energy, housing, fair work, climate, justice. Within this are some headline-catching commitments:
Cost of living and public services
- Expanded childcare from 9 months to end of primary school, 52 weeks a year
- £2 bus fare cap across Scotland nationwide
- Food price ceilings on essential items (bread, milk, eggs, etc.) at large supermarkets
- £40 Child Payment for babies under one
- Winter heating payments for pensioners and families with disabled children
NHS and health
- £200 million annually dedicated to growing elective capacity (more operations)
- Roll out of GP walk-in clinics (30+ sites)
- 24/7 Mental Health Hub expansion and Mental Health Triage Cars in every region
- 24/7 thrombectomy services with national coverage
- Women's health review, IVF provision review, miscarriage care improvements
Housing
- £4.9 billion investment in affordable housing over next four years
- 110,000 affordable homes by 2032 (70% social rent)
- New housing agency (More Homes Scotland) to accelerate delivery
- First Homes Fund (up to £10,000 deposit support) for 50,000 households
- Tenant right to first refusal on private rental properties
- £50 million homelessness prevention fund
Energy and climate
- ScotWind Wealth Fund to distribute renewables windfall to benefit future generations
- CARES (Community and Renewable Energy Scheme) expanded to £15 million annually
- Just Transition Fund (£500 million) to support workers and businesses
- Commitment to net zero by 2045
- Opposition to new nuclear power stations
- Opposition to new North Sea oil/gas (case-by-case on existing projects)
- Formal request for transfer of energy powers from Westminster to Holyrood ahead of independence
Fair work and apprenticeships
- 150,000 apprenticeships over parliament
- Collective bargaining expansion into social care
- Fair Work First policy expansion
- Teacher and NHS job guarantees
Education
- National mobile phone ban in classrooms
- Maintain best pupil-teacher ratios in UK
Independence
- An SNP majority would be a mandate for independence referendum (based on 2011 precedent)
- Formal request to Westminster for powers to hold referendum
- If independence achieved, Scotland would rejoin EU, set own immigration policy, control energy policy
Read our full Scottish National Party manifesto analysis here.
by Sam Rowe