2016 Sturgeon hits campaign trail with triple message

NICOLA Sturgeon has said health, education and the economy will be her party’s election focus.

The SNP leader was at Loch Lomond shores campaigning in the Dumbarton constituency.

Ms Sturgeon said the SNP would increase the front-line health budget, invest more in schools and protect the small business bonus over the next five years.

She said: “This is the most important election in the Scottish Parliament’s short history. It is an opportunity to back real improvements in education, building on the progress that has already delivered record exam results and more young people in jobs, training or at university.

“An opportunity to back our publicly owned NHS and support our health and social care staff with real terms investment over the parliament, new health centres and new equipment.”

She said on health the SNP would increase the front-line health budget in each year of the next Parliament, establish five new elective treatment centres and enhance local access to health and social care.

On education a SNP govern- ment would invest an extra £750 million in schools specifically to close the attainment gap between the richest and poorest, double the provision of free childcare and protect free higher education.

On the economy she said the SNP would protect the Small Business Bonus Scheme and work to ensure more people are paid the living wage and expand childcare.

Ms Sturgeon added: “With more powers coming to the Parliament, it is essential that Scotland has a government that will use them wisely and in the best interests of the whole of Scotland.

“The next six weeks are a chance for voters to test our proposals, to put them under scrutiny and to choose a government that is Stronger for Scotland.”

She said she wanted a “robust, positive and constructive debate” but – speaking ahead of last night’s televised leaders’ debate – she claimed the other parties were not taking the election seriously and instead were fighting among themselves.

The First Minister said: “The SNP is the only party in this campaign with a clear vision that can transform Scotland for the future, the experience to use new powers responsibly and a track record that voters can trust.”