Holyrood deadline looms as election campaigning continues
The deadline to stand as a candidate in the Scottish Parliament election will close on Friday as campaigning continues across the country.
The deadline to stand as a candidate in the Scottish Parliament election will close on Friday as campaigning continues across the country.
A final list of those seeking election on May 5 will be determined after the official Holyrood nomination period ends at 4pm.
Political parties are expected to step up their attacks as the first full week of the election campaign draws to a close.
Labour's shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray MP will be in Edinburgh to mark the 10th anniversary of his party bringing in the concessionary bus pass.
He will call for more regulation of the bus industry and challenge the SNP to use new powers coming to the Scottish Parliament to stand up to vested interests''.
Ahead of the visit Mr Murray highlighted donations of more than £2 million to the SNP from Stagecoach co-founder Brian Souter.
He said: Labour will use the powers to introduce a single smart ticket that you can use on buses, trains, trams, the subway and ferries, making travel easier and cheaper for working people.
To deliver that promise, our party - funded by the union contributions of train drivers and bus drivers - will do what the SNP, funded by Brian Souter, has refused to do every day they have been in government and regulate Scotland's buses to better serve Scotland's passengers.
If the SNP want to stand up for Scotland, they should stand up to Brian Souter.''
The SNP will counter the Scottish Conservative pledge to reintroduce prescription charging with a promise to keep them free.
SNP Health Secretary Shona Robison said the number of prescriptions has increased by more in England, where charges are due to increase to £8.40.
She said: The Tory plans mean two million people with long term conditions such as Parkinson's disease, Crohn's disease, Asthma, MS, Arthritis, Alzheimer's, and many more conditions, could be forced to pay for their prescriptions.
Prior to the abolition of charges even cancer patients had to pay for prescriptions that helped them manage their illness, is Ruth Davidson planning to add insult to injury by taxing cancer sufferers for being ill?
The SNP will maintain free prescriptions, protect our NHS and provide the healthcare and support that people need.''
Ms Davidson will focus on tax as she visits Dumfries Icebowl to meet members of the Scotland female under-20s ice hockey team.
Pledging to ensure a competitive tax regime for the south of Scotland, she said: People shouldn't have to pay higher taxes in Scotland than they would in the rest of the UK.
We are the only party in this election which is fighting to protect pay packets and ensure Scotland's economy remains competitive.
We won't see the jobs and investment we need if we hang a sign at the border saying higher taxes here, something people in the south of Scotland understand all too well.''
Meanwhile Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie will set out a three-point plan to help small businesses on a visit to jewellery business Rosa Red in Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire, with the party's top list candidate for the West of Scotland Katy Gordon.
Speaking before the visit he said: Our penny for education will deliver the extra skills Scottish businesses need to succeed.
But we also need to break down the barriers standing in their way.
That means investing in broadband, strengthening the links between business and schools and making sure tax rates don't hamper growth on the ground.''