Swinney says he offers a ‘programme for a better Scotland'
John Swinney promised Scots will benefit from 100,000 more GP appointments as he announced his 'programme for a better Scotland' – which will also see peak-time rail fares scrapped 'for good'.
The Scottish First Minister set out his Programme for Government, detailing the work ministers will do over the coming 12 months.
But with the next Holyrood elections being held in a year's time on May 7 2026, two of his keynote announcements – on GP appointments and ending peak-time rail fares – echo commitments already made by Scottish Labour.
Claiming the SNP had 'nicked' the policies, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: 'It's not exactly the borrowing powers I thought the SNP had in mind.'
Mr Sarwar's comments came after the First Minister insisted he was putting a 'renewed and stronger NHS' at the heart of his plans for the next 12 months.
Mr Swinney accepted the difficulty many face in getting GP appointments can cause 'deep frustration' in what he said was 'described as the 8am lottery'.
To tackle that he promised 'an extra 100,000 appointments in GP surgeries', with the SNP leader going on to add these would be 'focused on key risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and smoking'.
Meanwhile, he said the move to scrap peak-time rail fares for good from September 2025 was part of a 'package of cost-of-living support' offered by the Scottish Government.
These include policies Scots already benefit from such as free university tuition, free prescriptions and council tax and water bills that are, on average, lower than those paid by residents south of the border.
A pilot project had already seen peak-time rail fares in Scotland scrapped, leaving travellers paying the cheaper, off-peak prices regardless of when they travelled.
However, Mr Swinney said 'severe budget pressures' meant this policy could not be continued, and it was ended less than a year ago in September 2024.
But Mr Swinney said: 'Given the work we have done to get Scotland's finances in a stronger position, and hearing also the calls from commuters, from climate activists and from the business community, I can confirm that, from September 1 this year, peak rail fares in Scotland will be scrapped for good.'
He added that this was 'a decision that will put more money in people's pockets and mean less CO2 is pumped into our skies'.
On ending child poverty, something the Scottish First Minister has declared as one of his key priorities, he said over the next year the government would consult on and develop a new Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan for 2026-31.
Mr Swinney said this would outline the actions to be taken 'to keep us on the journey to meet our poverty reduction targets for 2030' – when the number of children living in relative poverty should be reduced to 10% or less.
The new plan will 'focus on reducing household costs, boosting incomes through social security, and helping more people into fair and sustainable jobs', the First Minister added.
His Programme for Government also promised more money for the Acorn carbon capture and storage project planned for the north east of Scotland.
While the Scottish Government has previously pledged £80 million for this, he said he would 'remove that cap and increase the amount of Scottish funding that is available' – although this will only happen if the project is given the go ahead by the UK Government.
He urged the Labour administration at Westminster to give support 'not only to carbon capture projects in England, but also to the Acorn project' – with the First Minister adding this would help with efforts to secure a future for the recently closed oil refinery at Grangemouth.
His comments came as he warned that 'new threats are emerging that have the potential to cause extensive damage to the Scottish economy' – with Mr Swinney referencing here the impact that tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump could have on 'many Scottish exporters to the USA'.
Speaking about the 'looming economic challenge', the First Minister promised a new fund would be created to help with the 'commercialisation of research projects with significant economic potential'.
Overall he told MSPs at Holyrood that his plans amounted to a 'programme for a better Scotland'.
He added: 'Centred on delivery, providing hope, it is a programme that seeks what is best for Scotland, a Programme for Government that gets our nation on track for success.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
32 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Former nurse removes cyst from eye after three-year wait
The dangerous procedure was revealed in a report looking at the long delays facing people awaiting treatment for conditions in North Wales. The Citizen Experiences Report, presented during a meeting of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board on Thursday, found frustrated patients were taking matters into their own hands due to long waits for help. It also described long waits experienced by patients in the emergency departments at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Ysbyty Wrexham Maelor, and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. Patients waiting up to 36 hours had been reported and 'overcrowding, uncertainty, and discomfort' were also 'common concerns'. The public consultation had been part of a 'listening and understanding' initiative aimed at improving the design and delivery of care and services. There had been 300 enquiries from MPs and MSs over their constituents' experiences, with waiting times 'the main focus'. One had described a former nurse, now 84, who had been placed on the ophthalmology waiting list in June 2019, but who had waited around three years until being seen. 'She says that she then had some procedures which did not help, and eventually removed a cyst on her eye herself,' the report quoted. 'She is waiting for an eye operation, which was requested in October 2023, and her eyesight is deteriorating rapidly. 'As a former nurse and nurse manager, she has given her working life to care for other people. Now she needs some care of her own.' Another concerned a man who wished to enlist with the British Army, but was unable to because of the health of his teeth. The report said: 'He has not been able to find an NHS dentist nearby due to a chronic shortage of dentists in North Wales, and private dentists have quoted a minimum of £3,000 for treatment.' Waiting had also had a 'catastrophic impact' on one patient's life who suffered daily pain, and another, awaiting an operation for bladder stones, endured 'continual bleeding'. Community conversations also highlighted issues over outpatient waiting times, access to services, ambulance and emergency department delays, and communication. Llais, the body which gives people a 'voice', when accessing health services, had also gathered data. Comments included 'significant challenges' accessing timely and affordable primary care, difficulty accessing GP appointments and the absence or loss of NHS dental provision. Delayed treatment or self-management of dental problems had manifested 'sometimes in unsafe or distressing ways'. Comments included: 'I ended up filling my own tooth with a kit from the chemist.' Another patient reported waiting: '12 hours in a corridor on a trolley.' Long delays for specialist services, including audiology, cataract surgery, neuro-developmental assessment, and respiratory care were also ' a major concern'. The meeting heard that despite many views highlighting 'dissatisfaction or frustration', many other participants had also expressed 'gratitude' and praise for the 'professionalism and compassion' by hospital staff, members and teams. The report also described measures taken by the board to address calls for improvements. In dental care this included creating contracts worth over £1.5 million to expand NHS dental provision. Further procurement exercises, covering general dental services, orthodontics, oral surgery, and non-urgent access, also totalled over £5 million. MOST READ A new dental access portal, launched in February, was also helping 'simplify and centralise' access to care. Improvements to areas such as emergency departments, dermatology, gynaecology, physiotherapy musculoskeletal, cancer services, and a midwifery ward bereavement suite had also been implemented. In neuro-developmental services, providing mental health support for children and young people, a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) improvement programme was in place. The new Crisis Hub – Alternatives to Admission – service had also supported 266 people in its first quarter since opening in February. The board acknowledged that 'significant work' remained to address 'challenges' in a 'sustainable, long-term way'.
The Guardian
36 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Keir Starmer refuses to set date for UK to spend 3% of GDP on defence
Keir Starmer has refused to give a date for the UK to spend at least 3% of GDP on defence, saying he would not indulge in 'performative fantasy politics', as he prepared to launch the government's strategic defence review. Speaking at a defence facility in Scotland, the prime minister said his commitment to hit 2.5% of GDP on defence spending from 2027 showed he was serious about the issue, but that he could not go further without fiscal certainty. 'I am not, as the prime minister of Labour government, going to make a commitment as to the precise date until I can be sure precisely where the money is coming from, how we can make good on that commitment, because I don't believe in performative fantasy politics, and certainly not on defence and security,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Pressed again on the date, Starmer said: 'We had a commitment for 2.5% by the end of this parliament. We pulled that right forward to 2027. We showed that when we say there's a new era of the defence and security of our country, is our first priority – as it is – that we meant it. We take the same approach to 3%. 'But I'm not going to indulge in the fantasy politics of simply plucking dates from the air until I'm absolutely clear that I can sit here in an interview with you and tell you exactly how that's going to work.' The defence review will say Britain must be ready to fight a war in Europe or the Atlantic, though it is not expected to promise immediate increases in the size of the armed forces to deal with the threat. The 130-page document will call for a move to 'war-fighting readiness' to deter Russian aggression in Europe and increases in stockpiles of arms and support equipment, some of which currently may only last days in a crisis. Asked about this, Starmer said: 'We have to recognise the world has changed, and if the world has changed, we need to be ready. What I would say, by way of reassurance, is if you want to deter conflict, then the best way to do that is to prepare for conflict.' Questioned on whether this could involve, for example, British troops being sent to defend attacks on countries adjoining Russia, Starmer replied: 'I very much hope not. And in order to make sure that that isn't the case, we need to prepare. But we cannot ignore the threat that Russia poses. 'We've seen what's happened in Ukraine just over three and a half, three years ago, those tanks rolled across a border, something I think all of us thought we wouldn't really see in our lifetimes – the invasion of a European country. Russia has so shown in recent weeks that it's not serious about peace. We have to be ready.' The review is not expected to contain any additional spending commitments. The defence secretary, John Healey, acknowledged on Sunday that any plans to increase the size of the British army, at its smallest for 300 years, would have to wait until after the next election. Speaking to the BBC, Healey said there had been '15 years of a recruitment and retention crisis in our armed forces' as he acknowledged that the size of the army had fallen to 70,860, below the government's target of 73,000.
BBC News
43 minutes ago
- BBC News
What can we learn from Clarke's fresh-faced Scotland squad?
International friendly: Scotland v IcelandWhen: Friday 6 June Where: Hampden Park Kick-off: 19:45 BSTCoverage: Watch live on BBC One Scotland and BBC Sport website & app, online text updates, listen on BBC Radio Scotland Steve Clarke is no stranger to adapting and evolving as Scotland his six years in charge of the national team, he has chopped and changed the makeup of his squad, reaching two major finals in the process.A place at the World Cup is the next target for Clarke's Scotland, 27 years since their last appearance at the showpiece event in 61-year-old has selected seven uncapped players for this month's friendly matches against Iceland and Liechtenstein as they gear up for their World Cup qualifying campaign, which gets under way in September. Hibernian striker Kieron Bowie and Sassuolo left-back Josh Doig are included, as are midfield trio Connor Barron of Rangers, West Ham United's Andy Irving and Lennon Miller of Robby McCrorie and Cieran Slicker are the other two players yet to make their full international the face of it, it appears Clarke is looking to the future, but what can we learn from his new-look squad? Blend of youth & experience One thing that stands out, in addition to the numerous uncapped players, is the volume of younger the 25-man squad, 12 are aged 25 or younger with their best years stretching ahead of Ferguson is one of them. The Bologna captain continued his superb story on the continent by winning the Coppa Italia last season, but has struggled for regular starts in the dark blue of his Kenny McLean not included and Ryan Christie recovering from injury, he has an opportunity to stake his place in midfield alongside Billy Johnston, 21, and the returning Nathan Patterson, 23, could be handed opportunities to impress with Anthony Ralston - the other right-back in the squad - second choice at James Wilson and Middlesbrough's Tommy Conway join Bowie as the other youthful striking is still a familiar feel to the spine of the squad though. Wiser heads like captain Andy Robertson, John McGinn, Kieran Tierney and Serie A MVP Scott McTominay remain, as Scotland seek momentum before the games that matter. Uncertainty remains in goal Not long ago, Scotland had an abundance of quality goalkeeping talent at their one of Craig Gordon, Allan McGregor or David Marshall were comfortable at international days, the resources between the sticks are less plentiful, to say the is now 42 and not included in this squad due to injury. It seems highly unlikely that even a man of his talent and resilience would feature at the 2026 World Cup if Scotland were to get there. Angus Gunn took the gloves at Euro 2024, but has made high-profile errors for both club and country and is now a free agent after being released by Norwich leaves the uncapped Slicker and McCrorie, both with limited experience at club must either back Gunn or put his faith in one of his untested shot stoppers. Which uncapped players might catch Clarke's eye? Of the uncapped players, Miller undoubtedly has the most hype around 18-year-old midfielder has improved at a remarkable rate since making his senior club debut aged just won the PFA Scotland young player of the year award last month after a season in which he scored four goals and assisted seven in 36 is expected to leave Fir Park for a sizeable transfer fee, one which could be bolstered should he make his Scotland bow against Iceland or Liechtenstein."I could maybe, in a couple of months, be the best player there," Miller said after his first Scotland call-up in later clarified his comments, saying the speed of that claim was a "mistake", but reiterating his desire to be the best player he possibly can be. Short of confidence, he is is another who will fancy making an impact, should the opportunity strong and imposing, he scored six goals in his first season for Hibs after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained playing for Scotland Under-21s."Any time I watched the Under-21s he always stood out," Clarke said when naming his squad. "He's big, physical and strong with good attributes to his game."Going into the summer, you've got Lawrence Shankland and Kevin Nisbet, I know what they can bring, so it was just to have a look at something a little bit different and see if we can expand the pool of players."You're looking for somebody to catch your eye."
