Our policies
You can find out about the policies that an SNP government will prioritise by clicking on the links on the left hand side of this page.

An SNP government will be open and progressive.  We will promote economic success, tackle inequality, and give people the support they need to make the most of their lives.  We believe that government has a responsibility to provide high quality public services, look after the vulnerable, and foster a spirit of enterprise. But we also understand that government - even an independent government - can only do so much. Each and every individual in Scotland must also play a part in building a nation we can all be proud of.

Our values
These are the values which have shaped and influenced the development of SNP policies and which will guide us in government.

No one country and no one human being is worth more or less than any other.

We believe in the right of sovereign peoples to self-determination. We believe that Scotland should be an independent country, equal with other countries in Europe and the world. We are committed to co-operation and peaceful co-existence with other nations. We believe nations must be free to decide how they co-operate to create economic prosperity, deliver social justice and protect the environment.

We affirm our commitment to the Charter of the United Nations, and its demand that all nations protect and assert the human rights of the individual.

The SNP is committed to the principle of equality of opportunity. That means the prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, age, sexuality, faith, belief, ability, status or social background. This commitment demands an end to poverty and in particular to child poverty, which blights the life-chances of so many young people in Scotland.

The people of Scotland should be empowered to take control of their lives and communities.

The SNP believes that decisions affecting the lives of individuals are best taken closest to those who will be affected by them. We will opt for de-centralist policy solutions that put power in the hands of communities and individuals.

We believe that public services should be run for the benefit of the communities and individuals they serve. There should at all times be transparency and accountability to local communities in the delivery of these services.

No-one can be truly empowered while feeling unsafe in their home and in their community. The SNP respects and will uphold the right of every citizen to live in peace and without fear from those who abuse the privileges of a democratic society.

Wealth should be created sustainably and shared in order to give every individual the opportunity to release their full potential.

The SNP recognises the necessity for Scotland to compete in the global economy and for the creation of wealth to be sustainable. We must steward the natural environment and resources of our country to ensure our economic success is not at the expense of future generations.

We are committed to significantly improving Scotland’s economic growth by placing Scotland at a competitive advantage, allowing the talent of the people of Scotland to flourish and for the potential of our country to be released. We will equip the people of Scotland with the skills and education required to ensure long-term individual and national economic success.  It is through economic success that we will earn our aspiration to social democracy.  No-one in the world owes Scotland a living and we must reap our own harvest and ring our own till.

We believe those who have retired from work should share fairly in the national wealth they have helped to create. We believe in simplicity, transparency, fairness and honesty in the taxation and benefits system. Tax will be levied and benefits distributed fairly and progressively.