The Scottish Greens have unveiled an election manifesto calling for free bus travel, thousands of additional teachers and doctors, and the introduction of a universal basic income, among hundreds of pledges the party has not yet costed.
The proposals are part of what the party describes as a plan for “radical change”. According to the manifesto outline, the programme would be paid for in part through higher taxes on aviation, gambling and landlords.
The announcement comes as the party enjoys a rise in Scottish opinion polls, with some surveys placing it ahead of Labour. That increase in support has been linked in part to the growing momentum behind the Green party of England and Wales under Zack Polanski.
The manifesto adds to a broader debate about the direction of Scottish politics ahead of the election, with the Greens positioning themselves as a force for major social and economic reform. Their pledges include measures aimed at expanding public services and reshaping how wealth is taxed.
While the party has highlighted the scale of its ambitions, the document also contains many uncosted proposals, leaving questions over how the full package would be delivered in practice. The Greens say the key elements would be financed through changes to taxation, particularly on sectors and assets associated with higher levels of wealth or profit.
The free bus travel pledge stands out as one of the most visible measures in the manifesto, alongside commitments to strengthen staffing in education and healthcare. The universal basic income proposal also signals a major shift in the party’s approach to social support and income security.
The manifesto launch places the Scottish Greens firmly in the discussion over public spending, taxation and public services in the run-up to the election. With opinion polls improving, the party appears to be seeking to turn that momentum into support for a wide-ranging policy platform.
Overall, the manifesto presents the Scottish Greens as advocating a larger role for government in everyday services, coupled with higher taxes on selected industries and property owners. The party’s challenge will be to persuade voters that its plans for major change are both credible and politically achievable.
