General Election 2015: The SNP manifesto in brief
Everything you need to know about the party's election priorities
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Your support makes all the difference.Tax and Spending
Ending austerity is the party’s “number one priority”. It proposes spending increases of 0.5 per cent a year to allow £140bn of extra investment, reducing the deficit and the national debt at a “slightly slower” rate. It would introduce a 50p top rate of tax, a mansion tax, and a bankers’ bonus tax. The minimum wage to rise to £8.70 by 2020.
Independence
Party “will always support independence” but says it is not what the general election is about. No suggestion of an imminent second referendum. Will seek an agreement to deliver full fiscal responsibility for Scotland, putting it in total control of its own finances. Full implementation of the Smith Commission proposals, delivering more powers for Scotland.
Defence
Will seek to block the renewal of Britain’s Trident nuclear deterrent, which it claims will save up to £100bn over the next 35 years. Ocean going patrol vessels to be based permanently in Scotland. Greater transparency in defence spending.
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Welfare
Will vote for “immediate” abolition of the bedroom tax and to halt the rollout of Universal Credit. The replacement of disability living allowance with personal independence payments should be reversed. Will oppose £3bn cut in disability funding.
Europe
Will oppose a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU. Will demand “double majority” lock, meaning that Britain would remain part of the EU unless England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all vote to leave.
Work and Pensions
Will support “tough action” to end exploitative zero-hours contracts. For the elderly, the triple-lock on pensions would be retained and winter fuel allowance protected.
Will support increases in the personal tax allowance and back an increase in the work allowance – the amount people are allowed to earn before their benefit is cut.
Education
Free tuition fees for Scottish university students to continue. Will support Labour’s proposed reduction in fees from £9,000 to £6,000 in England. Gaelic education fund protected. Extend the availability of Educational Maintenance Allowance in Scotland.
Immigration
Says a Scotland-specific immigration policy is needed. Review of immigration detention system to be ordered. Post-study work visas to be reintroduced so foreign students educated in Scotland can stay for two years.
Housing
Annual UK housebuilding programme to deliver 100,000 affordable homes a year. Will continue support for Help to Buy in Scotland.
The NHS
Proposes an increase in health spending across UK of £24bn by 2020/21, putting £2bn into the budget of NHS Scotland. Will vote against any privatisation of the NHS in England.
UK Democracy
Against a Tory government at all costs and would block a second term for David Cameron. Will support the abolition of the House of Lords. Backing for a new Westminster voting system of proportional representation to replace First Past The Post.
Media
Responsibility for broadcasting in Scotland to transfer from Westminster to Holyrood. Will press for BBC Scotland to receive a “fairer share” of the licence fee, bringing a £100m boost.
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