Final Week of Campaigning Ahead of Holyrood Election
Scotland's political parties are intensifying their efforts in the final week of campaigning before the upcoming Holyrood election.
On Thursday, 7 May, voters will visit their local polling stations to select representatives who will form the next Scottish government.
Electors will have the opportunity to vote for a candidate in their constituency and also cast a regional ballot for a political party.
A total of 440 candidates are contesting constituency seats, with 29 different parties competing across the eight regional lists.
By the conclusion of the week, Scotland will have determined its 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), with results expected throughout Friday due to the absence of overnight counting.
Political parties are presenting a wide array of policies, detailed in BBC Scotland's interactive guide.
The six major parties have participated in a series of head-to-head debates leading up to the election.
However, the outcome may hinge on the final campaign efforts.
SNP's Campaign Focus and Policy Proposals
SNP leader and First Minister John Swinney is aiming to influence voters in Dumfries and Galloway during the bank holiday Monday.
The SNP is advocating for an independence referendum in 2028, contingent upon securing a majority of at least 65 MSPs.
The party has committed to using devolved powers to require supermarkets to cap prices on essential groceries such as bread, milk, and cheese.
Swinney also announced plans to simplify the income tax system, implement a £2 cap on single bus fares, and expand funded childcare.
Scottish Labour's Priorities Under Anas Sarwar
In West Lothian, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is set to present his party's vision for transforming Scotland.
As demonstrated in his appearances at First Minister's Questions this year, Sarwar's primary focus is to
"fix the NHS".
Labour has pledged childcare tax breaks for parents, initiatives to repair potholes, and lifting the Scottish government’s ban on new nuclear power projects.
At the party's manifesto launch, Sarwar stated the election choice as
"more of the same with the SNP or change with Scottish Labour".
Scottish Greens' Campaign and Policy Goals
The Scottish Greens are engaging with support services for migrants to Scotland and emphasizing their plans for free bus travel, which is their flagship policy, alongside expanding free childcare.
Currently, the government funds 1,140 hours of childcare annually for two- and three-year-olds per child. The Greens propose extending this to all two-year-olds and providing 570 hours of free childcare starting from six months of age.
They also aim to recruit additional NHS staff, including GPs, nurses, and social care workers, and propose raising the school starting age to seven.
Scottish Conservatives' Campaign in Edinburgh
The Scottish Conservatives are campaigning across Edinburgh ahead of Thursday’s vote, seeking to attract undecided voters.
Leader Russell Findlay has promised to reduce income tax, improve access to GP appointments, and implement a policy to send prisoners abroad.
The Conservative manifesto also includes plans to repair roads, increase police numbers, and introduce a two-child limit on the Scottish Child Payment.
Scottish Liberal Democrats' Focus in the Highlands
In the Highlands, Alex Cole-Hamilton is campaigning for the Scottish Liberal Democrats to gain additional seats.
If elected, the party pledges to enhance NHS performance and reduce the cost of living.
The Liberal Democrats plan to recruit 900 extra NHS staff and 2,000 pupil support assistants in schools, alongside investing an additional £400 million in social care.
Reform UK's Campaign Priorities
Reform UK, the sixth major party, is emphasizing the strategic importance of the Faslane naval base.
Party leader in Scotland, Malcolm Offord, has committed to cutting income tax below the UK rate and reforming the NHS.
The manifesto also outlines intentions to reduce what it terms "unsustainable" welfare spending and to support the rehabilitation of the North Sea oil and gas industry.
Voting Details
Polling stations across Scotland will be open from 07:00 until 22:00 on Thursday, with many voters having already cast their ballots via postal voting.
