John Swinney vows lower bus fares and cheaper foods
john swinney vowed to cut the cost of living with lower bus fares and cheaper essential foods on the penultimate day of campaigning before Scotland votes on 7 May. The SNP leader set out the pledge while Scotland's six larger parties continued their final pitch to voters ahead of the election for 129 MSPs.
John Swinney and cost of living
Swinney's message focused on everyday costs rather than a broad policy speech. He said he would deliver "lower bus fares and cheaper essential foods," placing transport and shopping bills at the center of the SNP's closing argument.
The campaign's closing days have pushed parties toward direct voter priorities. Anas Sarwar said voters can "save Scotland's NHS" by voting Scottish Labour, while the Scottish Greens highlighted free bus travel for all.
Scotland's party pitches
The Scottish Conservatives said Tory votes can prevent an SNP majority. Reform UK highlighted community work and called for a taskforce to "fix" Scotland's high streets. The Scottish Lib Dems said they want to "lift Scottish education back up to its best."
That split gives voters a clear choice on 7 May, when they will elect 129 MSPs. The final appeals also show how each party is trying to define the election around a different public service or household cost before polling day.
Minimum Unit Pricing Debate
The Conservatives also want to scrap minimum unit pricing, which sets a base price of 65p for each unit of alcohol sold in shops. They said the policy adds £1.40 to a typical bottle of wine and £4 to a bottle of whisky.
The party pointed to alcohol-specific death figures to argue against the policy, saying deaths were higher in 2024 than before minimum unit pricing was introduced in 2018. There were 1,185 alcohol-specific deaths recorded in 2024, compared with 1,136 in 2018, and the Covid pandemic was judged to have increased harmful drinking during the same period.
For voters, the choice now sits between competing pledges on everyday costs, public services and alcohol policy before Scotland elects its next parliament. The campaign's final days are shaping the offer each party is asking people to back at the ballot box.
