NICOLA Sturgeon has urged voters to re-elect her as First Minister to enable building of a “fairer and more prosperous” Scotland.
The SNP leader pledged to deliver an economic recovery after Covid which benefits everyone, with long-term investments to improve health and well-being in the future.
She highlighted a range of commitments outlined in the SNP manifesto published last week which are aimed at achieving this, as well as offering more immediate support to families in uncertain economic times.
These policies include providing free breakfast and lunches to all primary school pupils, as well as piloting the provision of breakfasts for older pupils.
Building on the doubling of childcare provision and doubling the Scottish Child Payment over the parliament have also been promised.
A vow to abolish all NHS density charges if the SNP is re-elected was also highlighted, along with a “green transport revolution” which includes expanding the concessionary travel scheme and providing free bikes to all children who could not otherwise afford them, as part of ambitions to become a net-zero society by 2045.
Sturgeon said: “The SNP manifesto for this election is the boldest and most ambitious that we have ever published. It is designed to unite Scotland around shared goals as we lead the country through the pandemic and into a sustainable recovery.
“At the heart of our plans is a belief that the recovery must benefit everyone.
“We cannot simply wind the clock back to 2019 – we must be prepared to make long-term investments which will provide much-needed support to families right now but will also have long-term benefits for our health and wellbeing.”
Sturgeon said she was proud the SNP had already taken steps including delivering a “massive increase” in childcare provision, rolling out free school meals to P1 to P3 pupils and abolishing prescription charges.
She added: “But now is the time to build on these ambitions by going even further.
“At this critical moment in Scotland’s history, I would urge voters to give both their votes to the SNP to re-elect me as First Minister and for a serious government which will deliver the fairer and more prosperous Scotland that we all want to see – as well as giving the people of Scotland a choice over their future once the Covid crisis has passed.”
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