The First Minister announced the policy at SNP conference at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre yesterday with less than two months until the Holyrood election.
Stephen Flynn with John Swinney at the SNP Conference in Edinburgh.(Image: Getty Images)
John Swinney has vowed to spend £500million a year to extend year-round childcare provision to every family in Scotland with young kids.
The First Minister announced the policy at SNP conference at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre yesterday with less than two months until the Holyrood election.
He said the Scottish childcare system would take a “giant leap forward” by extending provision to “every child in the country from nine months old to the end of primary school” if the SNP are re-elected.
Swinney also pledged to double the number of planned GP walk-in clinics.
On childcare, he said the Nats would “finish the job we started” – after similar landmark childcare pledges were previously made by Nicola Sturgeon.
Swinney said: “This will be backed by over half a billion pounds of new investment.
“We will deliver a brand-new childcare system that fits around families – rather than expecting families to fit around the system. And because parents’ work doesn’t stop during the summer holidays – neither will the provision of childcare.
“Our new approach will mean families benefit from between £1400 up to over £11,000 dependent on need. Every single family in Scotland will get help.”
A senior SNP source later said it’s hoped the expanded childcare system would be up and running by the end of the next parliament in 2031 – and cost £500million annually.
Critics said the policies were reheated from previous SNP announcements, Tory education spokesman Miles Briggs said: “Given the SNP’s atrocious track record, no one will believe for a second they will actually deliver this.
“The SNP have failed to be ambitious or flexible enough when it comes to childcare policies over their two decades in power. As usual, they’re making big announcements, but with no plans to back it up. “
Swinney insisted he was putting “people’s priorities first” as he also promised to deliver 30 GP walk-in clinics across Scotland – two times more than what’s currently pledged.
The centres are aimed at reducing the huge demand for GP appointments. Only one has been delivered so far.
Swinney said: “We will double our original pledge, reaching more villages, towns and communities the length and breadth of Scotland.
“In Angus, Livingston, Paisley, Inverness, Glasgow, Falkirk, Ayrshire, Edinburgh, Lanarkshire, East Kilbride, Tweed Valley, East Renfrewshire and Dumbarton – that is the SNP delivering for Scotland.”
Earlier, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn – who is hoping to be elected to Holyrood – talked up the “fresh start of independence” as he tore into Labour for Westminster “chaos.
Flynn said: “When poor Anas Sarwar finally found the courage to agree with all of us that Keir Starmer wasn’t up to the job, the Labour Party in London did to Anas Sarwar just what they always do to the people of Scotland. They ignored him.
“Imagine being the man who picked a fight with one of the most unpopular leaders in modern political history – and lost.”
He added: “I’ve even heard that certain members of the Royal Family are already calling it Labour’s very own Anas Horribilis.”
