Radical Left-wing agenda that reeks of the early 1980s

THE SNP’s manifesto is arguably the most Left-wing document published by a mainstream party since the 1980s. Here, ALAN RODEN examines what it says – and what it doesn’t.

TAX: Nicola Sturgeon has pinched from Labour’s manifesto, backing the bid to increase the 45p top rate of income tax to 50p for those earning more than £150,000, and supporting Ed Miliband’s ‘mansion tax’, bankers’ bonus tax and the scrapping of the marriage t ax allowance. Her manifesto calls for ‘caution’ over Tory plans to raise the threshold for paying 40p tax to £50,000 by the end of the next parliament.

BORROWING: There is a clear split between the parties here. The SNP wants to end Britain’s austerity pro-

gramme and go on a spending spree of at least £1 0billion. That is down from an original £180billion following changes in the Chancellor’s Budget, but it will still take longer to balance the books than under the Labour or Conservative plans.

EMPLOYMENT: A minimum wage of £8.70 by the end of the decade, which is higher than Labour’s pledge of £8, risks sending small businesses to the wall. The manifesto also takes credit for reducing unemployment, which it bizarrely says has been brought about by the council tax freeze and free prescriptions – omitting the impact of the UK Government’s tax and spend decisions.

NHS: The SNP proposes a £2 billion increase in health spending, which is £9.5billion more than inflation – and would generate around £2bil- lion for Scotland through the Barnett Formula. It would be up to Scottish ministers how to spend the cash, and independent experts have found the SNP has not increased health spending at the same rate as England in recent years. Nationalist MPs will also vote on English health issues for the first time – by trying to stop the alleged ‘privatisation’ of the NHS.

IMMIGRATION: The SNP has the most pro-immigration policy of all the parties. The manifesto states that policies should be ‘suited to our specific circumstances’, which means opening the door to an influx of foreigners. There is no proposed cap on numbers or an indication of the party’s desired level of immigration.

BENEFITS: There is a clash over winter fuel payments between

Labour and the SNP, with the latter in favour of a universal approach and Ed Miliband wanting to stop payments for the richest pensioners. The so-called ‘bedroom tax’ no longer exists in Scotland, but Nationalist MPs would vote with Labour to end it in England.

EDUCATION: A devolved area, which includes support for an expansion in free nursery education and the continuation of free university tuition for Scottish and EU students. The manifesto backs Labour’s plans to reduce tuition fees in England from £9,000 a year to £6,000 – but that will do little to end the financial gap between Scottish and English universities or tackle the crisis facing Scotland’s colleges.

CONSTITUTION: Only three passing mentions of the policy the SNP

exists for: independence. The manifesto commits the party to ‘full fiscal responsibility’, which would see all tax and welfare devolved to Holyrood – leaving only defence and foreign affairs to Westminster. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has predicted that a ‘fiscally autonomous’ Scotland would have a £7.6billion black hole in its finances. Nicola Sturgeon argues this is irrelevant because fiscal autonomy would take years to be introduced – yet she told voters last year that independence could be achieved by 2016.

DEFENCE AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS: The SNP is steadfast in its opposition to the renewal of Trident, although still wants to be protected by NATO. The Nationalists oppose withdrawing from the EU, and want Scotland to have a veto if there is an in/out referendum. The SNP did not insist on England, Wales and

Northern Ireland having a vote on whether Scotland should leave the UK. TRANSPORT: The manifesto argues that public bodies should be allowed to run railway franchises. There is strong support for high-speed rail, but the SNP wants construction to start in Scotland as well as England. There is, predictably, nothing in the manifesto for motorists from a party which repeatedly tries to force drivers out of their cars.

LAW AND ORDER: One of the SNP’s most popular pledges from 2007 – 1,000 more officers than the party inherited – remains. But there is nothing to address the criticisms facing the new national force Police Scotland, such as the routine arming of officers. The ‘soft touch’ justice system that has seen community sentences prioritised over jail terms is set to remain in place.