NICOLA Sturgeon has called for a “Team Scotland” response to the cost of living crisis as she launched the SNP's local election manifesto, and hit out at the UK Government had failed to show “serious leadership” to tackle the problem.
The First Minister launched the SNP party manifesto at the Beacon Arts Centre in Greenock on Friday ahead of the May 5 council elections.
Battling soaring bills, rising fuel prices and supporting those on low incomes are front and centre of the 28-page manifesto.
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The FM hit out at the Westminster government’s lack of action to tackle the crisis, and said that SNP councillors will demand they fix the disaster facing households that they “did so much to create”.
Other key policies in the document include; a green recovery from the Covid pandemic, recruiting a further 3500 teachers, that SNP councillors will work with the Scottish Government on the design of the National Care Service and back the bid for indyref2 by 2023.
The FM, in a dig at scandal-ridden Prime Minister Boris Johnson, said that in “serious times”, people in Scotland “need and expect serious leadership”.
She continued: “In the months and years ahead, let us – all of us – come together in a national pandemic-level effort to steer Scotland through the cost of living crisis and build a better future.
“SNP councillors - in partnership with our government at Holyrood - will strain every sinew to help families and communities through to that better future.
“And we will demand the Tory government at Westminster takes action on the crisis that it has done so much to create.
“This is the clear choice facing the people of Scotland on 5th May.
“It is a choice between SNP action, compassion and leadership - or Tory inaction, self-interest, complacency and sleaze.
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“To people across Scotland - please do not sit this election out. Don’t let others decide your future for you.
“Let’s tell the Tories exactly what we think of their antics and their inaction.”
The FM added that SNP councillors elected in May will make the cost of living crisis their “immediate priority” and called for communities to rally together.
She said: “What we need over the coming period is nothing less than a pandemic-level, ‘Team Scotland’ response to these challenges.”
Taking action on fuel poverty to make it more affordable for people to heat their homes, building a wraparound child care system, all year round, and promises to keep council tax bills as “low as possible” all feature in the cost of living crisis pledge.
On the National Care Service plans, the FM addressed concerns raised by Cosla (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) that the new service could diminish the power of local health boards.
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Speaking after the launch, she said: “The challenge (in the National Care Service) is to make sure we don’t erode local delivery of services but that we do establish a service that addresses what many people have concerns about which is a postcode lottery of care standards that are not always as high as they should be.
“And for those who work in the social care sector, a lack of consistency around terms and conditions and a lack of proper value in terms of the pay.
“That’s about addressing those issues.”
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