Seán’s Manifesto

INDEPENDENCE

Scotland’s constitutional future should be determined democratically by the people who live in Scotland. The Scottish Parliament must be recognised not merely as a devolved institution, but as the democratic national legislature of Scotland with the right to consult the Scottish people on their constitutional future.

The current constitutional framework surrounding Scottish independence, particularly following the ruling of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom regarding Section 30 powers under the Scotland Act 1998, has exposed significant democratic deficiencies within the existing settlement. A modern voluntary union should not permanently deny one of its constituent nations the ability to democratically determine its own future.

Reform of the Section 30 Process

Seek constitutional amendments through the House of Commons to reform the Section 30 process within the Scotland Act framework, granting the Scottish Parliament the permanent authority to legislate for an independence referendum without requiring discretionary approval from Westminster governments.

This reform would establish:

• the democratic right of the Scottish Parliament to hold constitutional referendums,

• a clearer legal framework for future constitutional votes,

• and recognition of Scotland as a nation participating in a voluntary democratic union.

Constitutional Trigger Mechanism

Seek agreement with the UK Government on the creation of a constitutional trigger mechanism establishing a lawful and transparent route to an independence referendum.

Possible mechanisms could include:

• a defined electoral mandate threshold,

• a sustained pro-independence parliamentary majority,

• or a specified share of the national vote in Scottish elections.

Such a mechanism would provide democratic clarity and constitutional stability while recognising the principle of national self-determination.

International Recognition of Self-Determination

If constitutional reform or a trigger mechanism were refused, the Scottish Government would pursue international diplomatic engagement regarding Scotland’s democratic right to self-determination.

This would include:

• raising concerns with the United Nations,

• engaging with the wider international community,

• and seeking recognition that the continued denial of any democratic route to constitutional choice undermines internationally recognised principles of self-determination and democratic representation.

Democratic Mandate & Plebiscite Election

If all routes to a referendum or constitutional mechanism were permanently blocked, the Scottish Government would dissolve the Scottish Parliament and seek a direct democratic mandate through a Scottish independence plebiscite election.

Under this proposal:

• a Scottish Parliamentary election would function as a single-issue democratic mandate on independence,

• parties supporting independence would contest the election explicitly on that basis,

• and a majority mandate for pro-independence parties or votes would be treated as democratic authorisation to begin negotiations on Scottish independence.

  
  

This approach would ensure that constitutional change continues to be pursued through peaceful, democratic and electoral means rather than constitutional deadlock.

Taxation & Economic Policy

• Cut business rates for the BPR by 2p & the IPR by 1p.

• Provide income tax exemptions for Under 22’s.

• Abolish the age-banded minimum wage rates and create a flat statutory minimum wage of £12.21 p/h.

• New Council Tax Bands (effective from April 2027, accelerated from current plans):

  • Band I: Properties valued between £1 million and £2 million - multiplier of approximately 4.5–5 times Band D (or a fixed annual supplement of £1,500–£2,500 on top of standard Band H rates, subject to final modelling).

  • Band J: Properties valued over £2 million - multiplier of 6–8 times Band D (or a fixed supplement of £3,000–£5,000+ annually).

• Targeted Revaluation: Immediate targeted revaluation of all properties assessed above £1 million using current market values. This will be conducted by Scottish Assessors with a fast-track process to ensure accuracy and fairness. Future full or rolling revaluations every 5 years will be legislated to keep the system up-to-date.

• Safeguards and Fairness:

  • Transitional relief for homeowners (e.g., phased introduction over 2–3 years or deferral options for pensioners facing genuine hardship).

  • Protections for long-term residents and families in properties that have risen in value due to location rather than luxury.

  • Exemptions or discounts for properties used for certain community, agricultural, or charitable purposes.

  • Revenue hypothecated (ring-fenced) where possible to visible local priorities: islands healthcare infrastructure, pothole repairs, parks maintenance, and affordable housing.

• Second Homes and Empty Properties: Remove remaining caps on council tax premiums, allowing local authorities to charge up to 300%+ on long-term empty homes and second homes in high-pressure areas.

Economy & Business

• Nationalise Loganair.

• Create a Barra-Edinburgh & Barra-Inverness flight route.

• Create a Stornoway-Edinburgh & Stornoway-Inverness flight route.

• Create a Cardiff-Edinburgh flight route & Glasgow-Cardiff flight route.

• Further commercialise Dundee Airport & create routes to RoUK, Ireland & Mainland Europe.

• Further commercialise Inverness Airport & create links to Ireland & Mainland Europe.

• Commercialise Perth-Scone Airport & create links domestically and with RoUK & Ireland.

• Construct a small-sized airport on Isle of Skye & create routes to Edinburgh, Glasgow and London.

• Create privatised ferry links to the Isle of Man and Dublin.

  
  

Infrastructure & Transport

• Construct a train station in St Andrews, Ibrox and Cairnryan Ferry Terminal.

• Construct a Glasgow Airport Train Station on the existing Paisley Gilmour Street Line.

Roads & Car Parking

• Introduce a £1 bridge toll on the Skye Bridge for tourists.

• Create a nationwide council scheme to knock down derelict buildings and build council-owned, £2 fee car parks, preferably in areas close to a train station.

• Establish a nationally funded Scottish National Pothole Repair Service.

Pothole Repair Programme

• £117 million initial Scottish Budget allocation.

• Repair 700,000–1,000,000 potholes annually.

• Operate through voluntary council participation agreements.

• Focus on safety-critical defects, weather damage and high-use routes.

• National quality benchmarks, independent audits and performance reporting.

• Independent governance board with local authority representation.

Tourism Policy

• Introduce a nationwide 5% flat-rate tourist tax levy in the off-season for tourism, rising to 7.5% in peak tourism season.

Heritage & Historic Sites

• Merge Historic Environment Scotland (HES) & National Trust for Scotland (NTS).

• Introduce a £1 fee to access currently free NTS & HES sites (excluding religious sites).

Parks & Environment

• Create a bursary grant for councils to better maintain and improve accessibility to local parks, reservoirs and nature reserves.

Housing & Homelessness

• Revoke the existing modification order under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 suspending Section 33 local connection referrals across Scotland.

Electoral Reform

• Amend the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Act 2025 so that only those with indefinite leave to remain can stand as candidates in local and parliamentary elections.

Defence & Constitutional Policy

• Support the storage and maintenance of UK nuclear weapons in Scotland until Scottish independence.

• Following independence, allow a negotiated transition period for relocation to England.

Gàidhlig Policy

• Split Scots & Gàidhlig government spending allocations.

• Increase Bòrd na Gàidhlig funding by £375k.

• Increase Gàidhlig school funding by £4m (primarily for Na h-Eileanan an Iar).

• Increase Gàidhlig broadcasting funding by £7.9m.

• Increase Gàidhlig development funding by £300k.

• Increase the Gàidhlig specific grant by £450k.

Gàidhlig Medium Education Reform

• Abolish English medium education on Na h-Eileanan an Iar.

• Automatically enrol all future pupils into Gàidhlig Medium Education (GME).

• Existing English medium pupils permitted to complete schooling in EME.

• One exception school in Stornoway for eligible incoming EME pupils.

Education Reforms

• Abolish the loophole of SQA markers being classed as having a second job for SQA marking, allowing them to retain 100% of earnings.

• Estimated council cost: approximately £8.4 million annually, mitigated by Scottish Government funding.

• Reform Scottish secondary education to create a more specialised and tailored system inspired by education models in Belgium and Finland.

• From S4 onwards, pupils would enter specialised academic pathways while maintaining core educational standards.

Proposed School Pathways

Performing Arts Schools

Focused on:

• music,

• drama,

• dance,

• media,

• broadcasting,

• and creative arts.

Humanities Schools

Focused on:

• English,

• Modern Studies,

• Modern Languages,

• History,

• Politics,

• Sociology,

• Philosophy,

• and related subjects.

Technical & Practical Schools

Focused on:

• Mathematics,

• Geography,

• Computing Science,

• Administration & IT,

• Applications of Maths,

• Graphic Communication,

• Technical subjects,

• engineering,

• and vocational skills.

  
  

Overhaul the Scottish examination system to reduce pressure from single high-stakes exams and shift towards continuous assessment.

• No final examination may be worth more than 50% of a pupil’s overall grade.

• Continuous assessment to take place throughout the school year.

• Final examinations become optional in certain coursework-based subjects.

• Abolish timed assignments in humanities subjects.

• Greater weighting placed on coursework, research projects, presentations and class assessments.

• Expand digital assessment and modular certification.

Pupils would continue receiving broad general education through S3.

After S3:

• Mathematics and English would no longer be mandatory subjects.

• Pupils would instead focus on subjects relevant to their academic or vocational pathway.

• Greater flexibility for apprenticeships, college partnerships and work-based learning.

• Expand links between schools, colleges and employers.

• Increase technical and trade-based qualifications.

• Introduce more industry placements and practical learning opportunities.

• Develop regional specialist campuses aligned to local economic strengths.

• Reduce teacher administrative workload linked to excessive assessment evidence.

• Increase recruitment for technical and vocational teaching roles.

• Reform the Scottish Qualifications Authority examination and moderation structure to support modular assessment and continuous grading systems.

Scots Language Policy

• Increase Scots language development funding by £1.05m.

  
  

Football Policy

• Lift the alcohol ban on all Scottish football games except Premiership/Championship derbies.

• Introduce a £25 cap on away tickets for all domestic games in Scotland.

• Construct a new 30,000-seat UEFA Category 4 football stadium in Stirling to serve as Scotland’s secondary national stadium.

  The stadium would host:

• Scotland women's national football team matches,

• Scotland youth internationals,

• Domestic cup finals outwith the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup.

• Stadium construction: £190–250 million

• Transport/public realm improvements: £30–50 million

• Total capital cost: £220–300 million

Funding Model

• Scottish Government capital funding

• Scottish Football Association investment

• Naming rights & sponsorship

• UEFA/FIFA infrastructure grants

Economic Impact

• 1,500–2,000 construction jobs

• Permanent event and stadium employment

• Increased tourism and hospitality revenue in Stirling

• Growth of women’s and youth football in Scotland

  
  

Alcohol Policy

• Lower the drinking age to 16 for beer, cider and wine.

• Maintain the minimum age of 18 for spirits and whisky.

Western Isles Healthcare Strategy

The Scottish Government should adopt a targeted island-focused healthcare strategy for Na h-Eileanan an Iar centred on expanding Western Isles Hospital.

Major Hospital Expansion

• Expand Western Isles Hospital to approximately 225 beds.

• Estimated capital cost: £200–400 million.

• Expanded acute, rehabilitation, maternity and mental health services.

• MRI provision and expanded ICU/HDU capacity.

Community Hospitals

Develop small hospitals on:

• Eriskay

• Vatersay

• Harris

Each providing:

• 5–15 beds,

• step-down rehabilitation,

• low-risk inpatient care,

• routine midwife-led services.

Estimated combined capital cost:

• £40–105 million.

Emergency Medical Aviation

• Five enhanced medical helipads:

  • Eriskay

  • South Uist

  • Benbecula

  • North Uist

  • Harris

• Estimated helipad cost: £750k–£1.5 million.

• Procure two twin-engine EMS helicopters (£6–10 million combined).

• Operated by NHS Western Isles & the Scottish Ambulance Service.

• Primary transfers to Stornoway and onward to Inverness when required.

Public Service Air Links

• Introduce a PSO route from Barra Airport to Stornoway.

• Estimated annual subsidy: £1–5 million.

Programme Cost

• Total estimated capital investment:

  • £246.75–£516.5 million.

• Delivered through phased implementation within existing multi-year capital allocations.

  
  

Public Health Law

• Repeal the generational “smokefree” law.