New Poll: SNP Ahead Amongst Over 65s

SNP 'Only Party Standing Up For Pensioners'
The Scottish National Party has today welcomed a new poll, published by the Sunday Post, which shows that the SNP has a significant lead amongst people aged over sixty, with Labour pushed into third place by the Conservatives.

The poll, conducted by Survation, found that amongst people over sixty years old the SNP is on 43 per cent in the constituency vote for this May’s election, the Conservatives are in second place on 28 per cent and Labour are on 19 per cent.

The survey also found positive satisfaction ratings for the SNP government across the key policy areas of health, education and justice.

Commenting, SNP Campaign Director John Swinney said:

“This is an encouraging poll which shows a significant lead for the SNP amongst older people and a further fall in support for Labour amongst some of their traditional voters - highlighting just how far Labour have fallen from their founding principles.

“On key public services this poll shows that older people back the SNP’s record of delivery in government and recognise that the SNP is the only party standing up for Scotland's pensioners. Over the last nine years the SNP Government has protected key benefits such as the concessionary bus pass, free prescriptions and free personal and nursing care for older people.

“We are absolutely committed to making Scotland a fairer country for all – that’s why we’ll reject Labour's plans to increase taxes on half a million low income pensioners and Tory plans to fund tax cuts for the rich through cuts to disabled people.

“We take nothing for granted and will campaign positively to re-elect an SNP government that will stand up for everyone in Scotland, young or old, to take forward our progressive vision for a fairer country.”

Leaders' Debate - SNP Only Party to be Trusted with New Powers

Debate shows SNP are only party to be trusted with new powers

The first TV debate on the Scottish Election campaign shows that only the SNP can be trusted to use the new tax powers responsibly.

The debate saw Labour and the Lib Dems pledge to increase taxes for the lowest paid with no evidence of how they will protect people on low incomes.

At the same time the Tories committed to tax cuts for the rich on the back of cuts to spending on the disabled.

SNP Campaign Director John Swinney said

"Nicola Sturgeon showed that she is the only leader who can be trusted to take our country forward.

"After tonight's debate voters across Scotland know that it is only the SNP who can be trusted to use tax powers wisely not recklessly.

"Labour would tax some of the lowest paid in our society whilst the Tories would cut tax for the richest on the backs of the disabled and some of the poorest in our society.

"On tax, on welfare and on public spending this debate showed that it is only by using both votes SNP and supporting Nicola Sturgeon for First Minister that Scotland can keep moving forward.”

100 Days: SNP Pledge to Keep Scotland Moving Forward

Swinney Sets Out Campaign on Strong Record, Positive Vision and Credible Commitments
With 100 days to go until the Scottish Parliament election approaching, the Scottish National Party has pledged to keep Scotland moving forward as John Swinney sets out how the party will campaign on its strong record, positive vision, and credible commitments to the people of Scotland.

Writing for today's Independent on Sunday, John Swinney MSP, Deputy First Minister of Scotland and the SNP election campaign director, said;

“Thursday 5th May is the date when all of Scotland decides who we want to lead our country for the next five years in Government and who we want as our First Minister.

“Tomorrow marks 100 days of campaigning in which the Scottish National Party will make clear that we stand proud on our record, and clear on our commitment.

“Over the next 100 days we will set out – in clear, positive and ambitious terms – how we will build on our achievements to keep Scotland moving forward and unlock even more of our country’s vast potential.

"We are literally building for the future. We have exceeded our five year target to deliver 30,000 affordable homes and set out our commitment to go even further with 50,000 more affordable homes over the next parliament.

"We’ve bolstered the NHS budget to record levels, with record numbers of staff. We have reformed our police service with crime rates showing a 41-year low.

"We have boosted Scotland’s economy by getting people into work. Figures published this week show employment in Scotland at a record high, outperforming the rest of the UK, with youth unemployment at its lowest level since 2006.

“There has never been a bigger, more ambitious programme of improvements across Scotland.

"Our most transformational investment in the next parliament will be in education. We’ll almost double current provision of government funded early learning and childcare and right through to college and university level we are determined to deliver further achievement for Scotland.

"We will spend the next 100 days leading an ambitious, national debate about how to keep Scotland moving forward through progressive policies.

"Our mission could not be clearer – to earn the right on our record and our commitment to serve an unprecedented third term as Scotland’s government."

A Budget for growth and reform

Swinney announces £500 million boost for NHS and freezes Income Tax and Council Tax
In a budget that will promote growth in the economy and reform public services, Deputy First Minister John Swinney today (Wednesday) announced an injection of an additional half a billion pounds for health boards, taking total spending to a record of nearly £13 billion.

And, to support the most significant reform since the foundation of the NHS, Mr Swinney announced £250 million for the integration of health and social care, ushering in a fundamental realignment of the way the NHS and Local Government deliver care.

Mr Swinney also set the Scottish Rate of Income Tax (SRIT) for the first time and, in a move designed to protect the poorest taxpayers, the Deputy First Minister froze income tax by proposing a rate of ten pence. This means total income tax rates remain unchanged.

To protect household budgets already hit by UK Government austerity, the Budget proposes the 9th successive freeze in Council Tax – a saving of £1,500 for an average band D household.

Mr Swinney also announced he is protecting the Small Business Bonus - sheltering around 100,000 small firms from business rates – and investing in the future economic health of the nation through £345 million for research and innovation and £1 billion of investment in higher education. In order to support this investment, he announced he is asking Scotland’s biggest businesses to pay more by increasing the Large Business Supplement.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney said:

“The spending plans that I am announcing today will equip the country for the future and lay the foundations for the reforms that will define the next parliament - reforms that will reshape our health and social care services, deliver a step change in educational attainment, deliver a fairer system of local taxation and use new powers over tax and welfare in a way that supports our central purpose.

“This Budget is driven by two themes: supporting inclusive growth and protecting and reforming public services. We will deliver inclusive growth by focusing on investment in innovation, infrastructure, education and skills, and by maintaining a competitive business environment.

“And we will protect and reform public services by delivering on the Christie Commission approach of service integration at local level, prevention and improving outcomes for individuals.

“The current financial landscape presents us with a challenge and a choice. Scotland can meekly accept these UK Government cuts or we can rise to the challenge and chose a Scottish alternative to austerity. We choose to rise to the challenge. We choose the Scottish alternative. We choose to put reform and growth at the heart of this Budget.”

Poll Shows "Overwhelming" Support for Extensive New Powers

CROSS-PARTY CONSENSUS ON NEED FOR WESTMINSTER TO DELIVER ON POWER PROMISES
The SNP is today welcoming a new poll showing overwhelming majorities across supporters of all political parties in favour of extensive new powers for the Scottish Parliament.

Findings from the Panelbase poll, carried out between 29 September and 1 October and commissioned by the SNP, found that 71 per cent of people support control over all tax raised in Scotland, 75 per cent support control over all welfare and benefits – while 65 per cent support control of policy on the state pension, 66 per cent support control over all areas of government policy except foreign affairs and defence, 68 per cent support control of oil and gas revenue generated in Scottish waters, and 54 per cent support control over broadcasting.

In addition, an overwhelming 72 per cent of those asked said that there should be a guaranteed consultation by the UK Government with the Scottish Government when deciding the UK’s stance in European negotiations.

Finance Secretary John Swinney said:

"These are extraordinarily positive findings, showing strong support for extensive new powers - including control of all taxation and the welfare system in Scotland - right across Scottish society and across the political spectrum. There is also overwhelming support for the Scottish Government to be consulted about the UK's stance in European negotiations.

"In the referendum, 45 per cent voted for independence, and Westminster promised 'extensive new powers' to the 55 per cent who voted No. It is clear that people want the fullest possible transfer of powers from Westminster to Scotland, so that we are able to use our abundant resources to build a fairer, more prosperous society."

Scots Tory leader backs post-YES vote currency union

Scotland’s Finance Secretary John Swinney has welcomed comments by Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson that she backs a currency union post-independence.

Speaking in a BBC Scotland webcast interview posted on the BBC website today, Ms Davidson was asked if she would back a currency union post-independence and said “If that is what is best for Scotland, then Yes.”

Ms Davidson’s support for a currency union follows Alistair Darling saying last year that a currency union was both “logical” and “desirable”, the Tory Deputy leader Jackson Carlaw saying he would be “manning the barricades” in support of a currency union, and a UK Government Minister who said in March that “Of course there would be a currency union,”

Commenting Mr Swinney said:

“I welcome that Ruth Davidson has joined the growing number of No campaign leaders who support a currency union post-independence, including the UK Government Minister who said that “of course there would be a currency union.” After all the pound is as much Scotland’s as the rest of the UK’s and as the Scottish Government and the Fiscal Commission have set out, a currency union is in the best interests of Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom.

"Instead of continuing with the farcical position of opposing a currency union which is now widely recognised as right for Scotland, for the UK and for business, the UK Government should accept the common sense position – now supported by Ruth Davidson - that given Scotland is the second biggest trading partner for the rest of the UK, it makes perfect sense for our currency union to continue.”