SNP Manifesto To Offer "Austerity Alternative"

The Scottish National Party will offer an "alternative to austerity" in its election manifesto.

Party leader Nicola Sturgeon will unveil the document in Edinburgh later.

Both Labour and the Lib Dems have repeated criticism of the SNP's plan for full fiscal autonomy, saying it'd leave a 7 billion pound black hole in the budget

While the Conservatives will be in Glasgow later to warn of an SNP-Labour deal at Westminster.

The SNP is expected to pledge to vote on major issues affecting England to protect Scotland's funding through the yearly grant it gets through the Barnett formula - a proportional percentage of spending across the UK.

It will also oppose the renewal of the UK's trident nuclear submarine fleet, promising to spend that money on schools and hospitals.

A senior SNP campaign source said it will be a UK-wide manifesto centered on their "alternative to cuts". 

They said: "For perhaps the first time, the SNP have proved our complete relevance to a Westminster General Election - not least with Nicola Sturgeon's hugely impressive performances in the TV debates. 

And if we earn people's trust in May 7, we can be in a decisive position to help deliver a bolder programme than Labour on their own are willing to. Being a strong voice for Scotland and a progressive force in UK politics are two sides of the same coin.

"Our message is that if people vote SNP they get SNP - and more importantly they get policies at Westminster on the economy, health, Trident and across all areas that deliver real change and real progress."

                                            "Radical Choices"

                        
                          Ed Miliband: another indyref 'hasn't been ruled out'

Ed Miliband will be in Glasgow later to say voting for the Scottish National Party to get rid of the Conservatives is "a gamble".

Ahead of the speech, he said the next Labour Government will "end Tory austerity and make radical choices to change the lives of working people across Scotland."

He said: "We will put working people first with an £8 minimum wage and an end to exploitative zero hours contracts. 

"We will make fair choices. We will introduce a 50p tax rate for the wealthiest few, because those with the broadest shoulders should bear more of the burden. 

"And we will respond to the call for change in Scotland. Labour's Manifesto guaranteed that we will deliver our promises, devolve powers to Scotland and build a better Scotland for working families. We will introduce a Home Rule Bill to Parliament in the first 100 days of the next Labour Government, while the SNP still won't say in their manifesto whether they rule out calling for another referendum in the next five years. 

"Nicola Sturgeon is asking people to gamble on getting rid of a Tory government – the only way to guarantee getting rid of a Tory government is to vote Labour."

"Fighting for their lives"

Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson is also in Glasgow to warn of a deal between Labour and the SNP.

She will say that despite the No to independence, the UK's future will be "bartered away" in political deals.

"The reality of what Scotland is facing is beginning to sink in.

"Of course Labour is trying to deny it - Ed Miliband has to while Scottish Labour MPs are fighting for their lives."

"The moment those Scottish Labour MPs are gone, Ed Miliband will be straight on the phone to Nicola Sturgeon asking for her opening bid."

"And a few months after we Scots decided to remain within Britain, we will see the future of our United Kingdom being bartered away in a back room."

Ms Davidson will also say that  Nicola Sturgeon is "an accomplished politician."

"She knows that the best way to win in two weeks' time is to de-risk the SNP. Thus she tours London's TV studios pledging to be a constructive and positive partner to people across the UK."

"Surely it's time that Labour woke up and realised that the SNP's first and last priority will always be separation." added the Tory leader.

'Second referendum'

Elsewhere, Liberal Democrat Secretary of State for Scotland Alistair Carmichael will set out their manifesto proposals to expand the work of the British Business Bank.

The party says it has helped more than 2,000 Scottish businesses, securing investment of £155million.

Mr Carmichael claims companies will want to hear a "cast-iron guarantee" that the SNP will support the work of the British Business Bank. 

He said: "Projects and funding deals must not be put at risk by the SNP's plan for a second independence referendum.

“Anything called ‘British’ will have a question mark over its future in a second referendum. The SNP need to provide guarantees that they will leave it alone and let it get on with its work.

“Businesses want long term support and the British Business Bank can do that. I am calling on the SNP to say that they stand fully behind the British Business Bank and the work it does in Scotland.

“In Scotland there are more people in work that ever before. The Liberal Democrat plan to support the British Business bank will add to that number.”