The Scottish Liberal Democrats have published their manifesto for the UK General Election.
While the General Election will largely focus on matters reserved to the UK Government, the Scottish Grocers’ Federation has put together a summary of the main points for retailers to consider.
UK reserved issues & taxation
- Launch a Home Energy Upgrade & National Food Strategy and ‘in time’ cut income tax (raising the personal allowance) to tackle cost of living crisis.
- Focus on good employment, productivity, encouraging business investment growth and green investment, with some additional taxes on banks, tech & big business.
- ‘Gig’ economy: 20% premium on minimum hourly pay rates for workers on zero-hour contracts, with a right to ask for a contract after 12 months.
Scottish Economy & taxation
- Improve relations with European Union nations and work closely with UK devolved governments to encourage UK-wide growth.
- Aim to work in partnership with business to offer stability and maximise the opportunities for investment, growth and employment.
- Review the UK excise duty structure to support whisky exports.
- Provide the Scottish Government with a share of an extra £1 billion a year to support farming across the UK, enhancing Scotland’s agricultural support framework.
Public Health
- Working on a four nations basis to halt the use of vapes by children, while recognising their role in smoking cessation for adults, and banning the sale of single-use vapes.
- Improve access to healthy, nutritious food. Noting that ultra-processed foods, high in saturated fat, sugar and salt, are usually much cheaper than healthier foods.
- Strengthen the Groceries Code Adjudicator.
Retail Crime
- Focus on organised and international crime by resourcing the National Crime Agency and improving cooperation with Europol and Eurojust.
Other related matters
- Ensure local authorities have new powers and adequate resources to improve local transport, improve local enforcement, and rebuild local services.
Click here to read the full Scottish Liberal Democrats 2024 Manifesto
