Swinney pledges no tax hikes and price cap on essential food in SNP manifesto

John Swinney has promised “bold action” on the cost of living as he pledged not to raise taxes in the next parliament and cap the price of essential food.

The First Minister launched the SNP manifesto on Thursday at an event in Glasgow, where he said the price of between 20 and 50 essential items would be capped in large supermarkets if the party is re-elected on May 7.

But the policy could face legal trouble, being open to both a challenge from retailers and blocked by the UK Government under the Internal Market Act.

The Press Association understands SNP ministers would be willing to take the battle to court against supermarket giants.

The UK Government blocking the policy could prove politically difficult for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who would face accusations from the SNP of increasing people’s bills.

Announcing plans to set a maximum price for essential food items such as bread, milk and eggs, Mr Swinney told supporters: “Things have got so tough it is now impacting upon our nation’s nutrition.”

He said that under the current devolution arrangement, he cannot normally set prices at the till – but Holyrood has powers over public health and he plans to use them to put a price cap on certain items.

These “fair food prices” could cover “everyday items that make up a decent diet”, he said.

He added that the plan shows his Government is working on “reducing the price of the weekly shop” and “putting more money in people’s pockets”.

Legislation would be brought forward early in the new parliamentary term to bring in the caps, with the price of individual items left up to ministers. A “sunset clause” would ensure the measure is scrapped when it is no longer required.

But Ewan McDonald-Russell, the deputy head of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said the policy is “wrongheaded” and more money should be put into the pockets of retailers to allow costs to be cut for consumers.

The 76-page SNP manifesto also pledges not to increase the rates of income tax, or the amount of bands, with the promise to “simplify” the tax regime in a bid to help people struggling with the cost of living.

Asked if this could mean the merging of the bottom three tax bands into one, the First Minister did not answer, though it is understood such a move could be under consideration by an SNP administration in Edinburgh.

“We’ve set out some fair commitments on income tax,” Mr Swinney said.

“We have a fair and progressive system, the most progressive in the United Kingdom, and we’ll keep it that way, but we also have to be mindful of the turbulent conditions in which we’re operating and we have to be mindful of the effects of inflation and other factors on taxpayers.

“Those will be the factors that I will bear in mind as we work through our commitments, which are given in the manifesto, not to increase the number of bands or their rates over the lifetime of the parliament.

“That’s an assurance that I can confidently give to the electorate in Scotland.”

The First Minister also promised to cap bus fares at £2 per journey if the SNP is re-elected.

It is understood the policy would include a subsidy for bus companies to cover the difference and it will have no geographical barriers – meaning, for instance, a journey from Glasgow to Skye would cost just £2.

Unveiling the manifesto, Mr Swinney he told voters he offers “experienced, principled, reliable leadership” during “troubling and uncertain times” when “the world is riven by conflict”.

He said: “My entire adult life has been spent in the service of this country. I have given that calling my everything.

“Today, I offer to do more. To serve more.”

The SNP leader has set his sights on winning a majority of seats on May 7, insisting that would be enough to force a second referendum on independence.

The First Minister’s message to voters was clear, telling them that supporting the SNP is “a vote to put Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands, for a referendum on independence” – one that, he said, “I intend to win”.

The SNP manifesto was published as a poll for the Daily Telegraph put Mr Swinney’s party on course for a majority at Holyrood after May 7.

The multilevel regression and post-stratification (MRP) poll by JL Partners suggests the SNP could win 67 seats, up from the 64 the party won in 2021.

Labour is forecast to come in second with 19 MSPs – down from the 22 at the last election – with Reform UK predicted to come third with 17 MSPs.

The Tories are forecast to return 10 MSPs – down from 31 five years ago – with both the Liberal Democrats and the Greens expected to increase their tally to seven and nine MSPs respectively.

Hitting out at the SNP manifesto, Scottish Labour’s deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: “After 20 years of failure, Scotland knows SNP promises are not worth the paper they are written on.

“The SNP still hasn’t delivered on the pledges in their last manifesto – or their 2007 one for that matter.

“If you want to know what dishonest John and the SNP will really deliver, look at their record – our NHS in crisis, schools declining, crime rising, 10,000 children homeless, and roads covered in potholes.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat deputy leader Wendy Chamberlain was also critical, saying: “What a snoozefest. The SNP’s manifesto is a drab document produced by a party that’s run out of steam after two decades spent failing to deliver for Scotland.

“Besides their increasingly desperate and dubious claims about independence, the SNP have nothing to offer besides the same sort of implausible freebies they’ve promised and then failed to deliver time and again.”

And Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “John Swinney spelled out loud and clear that breaking up the UK will be his only priority if the SNP win a majority on May 7.

“He is deadly serious about pushing his lifelong, independence obsession and he’s confident of bullying a weak Keir Starmer into granting another divisive referendum.”

The Tory insisted: “This must act as a wake-up call to pro-UK voters that the union is on the line at this election.”