The SNP has outlined a series of cost of living measures in its manifesto ahead of the 7 May election, with Shirley Anne Somerville saying the party is offering the strongest support package in the UK.

The plans focus on transport, food, childcare and housing, alongside maintaining existing policies already in place across Scotland.

The manifesto includes a £2 bus fare cap, proposals for fair food pricing on essential items, continued tax differences for most income taxpayers, expanded childcare support from nine months to the end of primary school, and up to £10,000 for first time buyers.

These commitments sit alongside existing measures such as free prescriptions, free tuition and the Scottish Child Payment.

Shirley Anne Somerville said:

“People are really struggling at the moment.

“Whether at the petrol pump, in the supermarket or when the electricity bill comes through at the end of the month, it seems prices just keep going up.

“People in Scotland are looking to their government for help and so far Keir Starmer’s Labour government has done nothing.

“On fuel, food and energy prices they have been like a rabbit in the headlights and people have been left with no support.

“That is never an approach the SNP will take, we are always on Scotland’s side and we will always do everything we can to help people through these tough times.

“That is why we have brought forward bold and ambitious plans to tackle the cost of living crisis in our manifesto, with a £2 bus fare cap to bring down the cost of people’s commute and fair food prices to ensure that everyone can afford the basics in life.

“That is what people get from an SNP Government on Scotland’s side.

“On public transport, on childcare, on food and on housing, we will use every power at our disposal to help people.

“And if the UK Government will not act where they have powers over energy and fuel, they should get out of the way and hand the powers over to an SNP Government that will.”

The manifesto places cost of living support at the centre of the party’s pitch to voters, with a focus on reducing everyday household costs.