SNP 2021 manifesto: What Nicola Sturgeon's policies mean for Scottish independence

Nicola Sturgeon is hoping to gain a second term in office after today's election, extending her time as Scottish First Minister to 12 years

Daniel Sanderson, Scottish Correspondent and Georgina Hayes 6 May 2021 • 12:31pm

SNP 2021 manifesto what Nicola Sturgeon's party policies mean for Scottish independence national — Voting has begun today for the 2021 Scottish parliamentary election Credit: REUTERS

Nicola Sturgeon is seeking to win an outright majority in the election today which her party has called the "most important in Scotland's history", pushing for an independence referendum in 2023.

The First Minister has described the manifesto, which was unveiled on April 15, as a "transformational" document, and is hoping that voters will decide she is the hard-working leader they need to lead Scotland's recovery from coronavirus.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wears a face mask to meet voters at Annette Street school polling station on May 6, 2021 in Glasgow Credit: Jeff J Mitchell /Getty Images Europe

However, opposition parties have pointed to a litany of promises made by the SNP over the years, some from as long ago as 2007, that have not been delivered.

Here is what the SNP manifesto says about the key issues.

Scottish election results 2021 - how Scotland voted

SNP manifesto

Scottish independence

The SNP manifesto states that an independence referendum should be held once the "immediate Covid crisis" has passed. However, how the "crisis" is defined – and how to judge when it is over – is not explicitly spelled out.

The party’s intention is for a referendum to be held within the first half of the next parliament, meaning by late 2023. Although the process of negotiating the terms of independence would likely take years, the SNP claims that its preferred timeframe would "equip our parliament with the full powers it needs to drive out long-term recovery from Covid and build a better, fairer nation".

It states that a majority of pro-independence MSPs, including the votes of Scottish Greens and Alex Salmond’s Alba Party, would be enough to secure a mandate for another vote. This means Ms Sturgeon will push ahead with her separation plans even if the SNP does not gain an outright majority on its own.

The manifesto states any referendum must be "legitimate and constitutional", and an SNP Scottish Government would open talks with the UK Government over the transfer of powers to allow it to take place.

However, it also raises the prospect of the SNP passing its own referendum bill at Holyrood, which the UK Government could challenge in the courts, should Boris Johnson stick to his guns and continue to refuse to allow any new referendum to be held.

The SNP says that should the constitutional battle over a new referendum end up in the courts, it would fight the case "vigorously". However, it does not say what it would do if – as many constitutional experts predict – the Scottish Government lost the case.

Tax

Despite outlining a series of expensive policies, the SNP says it plans to maintain income tax rates for the duration of the parliament, with any rises to bands not exceeding inflation.

However, it also states that "it is important for any Government to have flexibility to respond to a change in circumstances", potentially leaving the door ajar for the pledge to be ditched. The SNP broke its promise in its 2016 manifesto not to raise levies on basic rate taxpayers.

It also promises to freeze rates and bands for Land and Building Transactions Tax – the Scottish equivalent to Stamp Duty – for the duration of the parliament. However, business rates will increase for larger firms.

There is a vague commitment to reforming council tax "to make it fairer".

Education

The SNP promises a system of "wraparound childcare", meaning children would be looked after before and after school, and to expand free early years education to some one and two-year-olds.

Every school pupil would be entitled to a free digital device and there would be an expansion of free school meals. A school clothing grant for low income families would be increased to at least £120 per primary pupil and £150 for secondary pupils.

The findings of an OECD review of the curriculum – the preliminary findings of which the SNP has refused to publish – will be "taken forward", the manifesto states.

An investment of £1 billion on closing the attainment gap between rich and poor is promised, while 3,500 extra teachers and classroom assistants would be hired. There is a brief commitment to devolving more power to teachers, but little to suggest there are plans for a major reorganisation of the schools system.

A Scottish version of the Erasmus student exchange programme, no longer available due to Brexit, will be developed.

Nicola Sturgeon samples gin during a visit to the Edinburgh Gin Distillery while campaigning ahead of the election Credit: Jane Barlow/Getty Images

Health

The SNP says it will increase health spending by at least 20 per cent over five years and set up a new National Care Service. This will not mean all care homes are nationalised, but the new organisation will "oversee the delivery of care, improve standards, ensure enhanced pay and conditions for workers and provide better support for unpaid carers".

In a major pledge, the SNP says it will abolish all NHS charges in dentists over the course of the next parliament. As the poorest already receive free treatment, the policy will mainly help the better off.

A quarter of a billion pounds is promised over five years to tackle Scotland’s drugs death crisis.

Rural Affairs

A new land reform law will be introduced, which would see community groups given first refusal to purchase large areas of land that are being sold.

Superfast broadband will be extended in the north of Scotland, although work there will not be completed for another five years. It is hoped that full 5G services will be available to eight Scottish islands.

In an attempt to stem depopulation, 100 bonds of up to £50,000 each will be offered to young people or families to allow them to stay in or move to the islands. Councils will be handed new powers to discourage second homes.

There will be a new push for low carbon farming, and a drive to encourage more cultivation of planet-based proteins rather than animals.

Legislation will be passed to "ensure the equal rights of succession for women in agriculture". Law changes are also promised to close "loopholes" in fox hunting rules and the SNP "remains committed" to a licensing regime for grouse shooting.

Transport/Environment

The SNP plans to spend £1.6 billion over five years decarbonising heating for homes and other buildings. New tougher rules will be drawn up for builders, and plans for a publicly-owned energy company will be revived.

By 2026, at least 10 per cent of transport infrastructure budgets will be spent on walking and cycling. Free bikes will be offered to children from low income families.

Free bus travel will be extended to under 22s, while a target will be introduced to reduce the use of cars by 20 per cent by the end of the decade.

The manifesto describes oil and gas as an "important part" of the energy mix but adds that "we must transition to new, cleaner fuels".

Scotrail will be taken into public ownership from next year and Scotland’s railways will be decarbonised by 2035, under the SNP plan.

What rules to expect at polling stations during the coronavirus pandemic

When will the results of the local elections be announced?

Due to coronavirus restrictions, voting will take longer than normal and counting will not take place overnight. In most single-seat constituencies, votes will start to be counted on Friday morning, with most of the declarations expected on Friday afternoon/evening.

The rest of the single-seat constituency votes will be counted on Saturday, alongside the regional votes. These results are expected later the same day.

You can view what day and time your local seat is expected to be declared in our Scottish government election 2021 article.

Who is Nicola Sturgeon and what has she said about the SNP manifesto?

The First Minister for the last six years, Ms Sturgeon took over the top job in November 2014 after being elected SNP leader unopposed following Mr Salmond’s resignation.

Ms Sturgeon has spent half her life in politics after being elected at the age of 29 to the new Holyrood parliament in 1999, as a Glasgow regional MSP.

Ms Sturgeon became deputy First Minister and Health Secretary when the SNP, fronted by her former mentor and current electoral rival Mr Salmond, won the 2007 Scottish election.

Ms Sturgeon quickly became synonymous with electoral success after she spearheaded the SNP Holyrood campaign in 2011, which saw the party win an unprecedented majority.

In 2015, Ms Sturgeon led the SNP to another astonishing result in the UK general election, taking 56 of the 59 seats in Scotland and wiping out Labour. The trend continued in the 2016 Holyrood elections, with the SNP easily winning after campaigning heavily on Ms Sturgeon’s popularity - although failing to win an overall majority.

Still enjoying positive personal ratings in Scottish opinion polls, she has been placed front and centre of her party’s election campaign and plans to use her victory to demand a second independence referendum.

Ms Sturgeon has come under fire for her Government’s failure to close Scotland’s education attainment gap, which she previously said would be her "priority", or to meet vital cancer and mental health wait time pledges.

And while an independent investigation found that she did not breach the ministerial code in her handling of sexual assault claims against Mr Salmond, she has been forced to defend a series of sex scandals and controversies within the SNP, as well as her Government’s botched investigation into complaints against Mr Salmond.