Its first year will show whether Ministers are serious about delivering people’s rights to security, dignity and opportunity, or whether they will settle for business as usual.
So where should they focus?
Help make tax fairer, starting with Council Tax
Replacement of the unfair, out-dated Council Tax is non-optional.
It is based on property values from 1991, before more than a third of Scotland’s population was even born. Since then, property prices have changed dramatically.
This means unfairness has only grown, with some low-income households in cheaper homes paying a bigger share of their income than those in much more expensive properties.
At the same time, councils are struggling to fund the local services we all rely on and Council Tax debt recovery can push people deeper into hardship, including women fleeing abuse.
We’ve long called for Council Tax to be replaced with a fairer system. Several parties have pledged to pursue reform. Now we need them to work together and deliver it.
In its first year, the new Government must:
- begin revaluing properties;
- set out a clear timetable to replace Council Tax with a fairer property tax; and
- reform Council Tax debt recovery so it is fairer.
Tackling wealth inequality head on
Scotland needs to do more to address wealth inequality.
Right now, the richest 2% of households hold more wealth than the bottom 50% combined, while many people have no financial cushion at all.
This wealth gap shapes who has security, opportunity and influence.
We’ve been clear that tackling inequality means asking those with the most to contribute more. But manifesto commitments were thin.
Without real action on wealth inequality, efforts to reduce poverty will always fall short.
In its first year, the new Government must:
- set out a clear, timebound plan to tackle wealth inequality; and
- act on the new Community Wealth Building law with clear plans to make sure more local wealth stays in communities and benefits local people.
Making rights real
Poverty and inequality persist when people’s rights to housing, dignity and a decent standard of living are not properly protected or enforced.
Introducing the long‑awaited Human Rights Bill would help change that by embedding these rights into law and public decision-making. This would strengthen accountability and give people clearer legal routes to challenge failures to uphold their rights.
In its first year, the new Government must:
- introduce the Human Rights Bill to Parliament without further delay; and
- ensure it meaningfully embeds rights to an adequate standard of living, social security, housing and a healthy environment, so future decisions on tax, care, climate and spending improve people’s lives.
Cutting poverty and supporting care
To help cut poverty, we need strengthened social security and to make sure people aren’t pushed into hardship because they give or need care.
Care holds our society together. It should not come at the cost of financial hardship.
There is now stronger backing across the parties for expanding funded childcare, including earlier access and more wraparound provision; a shift we’ve pushed for. That matters: childcare costs are a major pressure on family incomes.
But childcare alone won’t end poverty and on social security and support for carers, commitments to do more to protect people from poverty still fall short.
In its first year, the new Government must:
- properly value care, with better pay and conditions for care workers and stronger financial support for unpaid carers; and
- increase the Scottish Child Payment immediately to £40 a week for all eligible children, reaching at least £55 by the end of this Parliament.
Climate action that reduces emissions and inequality
Climate change is already pushing up bills and living costs. Action is unavoidable but it must not make life harder for people who are already struggling.
Climate policy will only work if people can afford it and see the benefits in everyday life. That starts with warm, efficient homes and public transport that people can actually rely on.
In its first year, the new Government must:
- make the biggest polluters pay more for their emissions, by bringing the planned private jet tax forward to 2027 and setting it high enough to make a real difference;
- accelerate the move away from fossil fuels, making sure workers and communities have more support through the transition;
- speed up the move to cleaner, cheaper heating, with strong laws and upfront public grants to insulate and upgrade homes, with full support for low‑income households; and
- make public transport more affordable by introducing the £2 bus fare cap everywhere, while addressing safety and accessibility issues, especially in rural areas.
A fairer Scotland in a fairer world
Decisions taken here have consequences far beyond Scotland, particularly at a time of conflict, climate disruption and deep global poverty.
Being a fair Scotland also means being a responsible global neighbour.
The SNP’s pledge to increase international development funding by 25% this Parliament – a commitment we pushed hard for - must be fast-tracked.
In its first year, the new Government must:
- increase Scotland’s small but impactful funding immediately, and ensure more reaches women’s rights and women-led organisations;
- boost support for communities facing humanitarian crisis while continuing to back action to address climate harms faced by low-income countries; and
- publish a new international development strategy that clearly sets priorities and how impact will be measured.
The choice ahead
These practical steps would make life fairer for people across Scotland and strengthen Scotland’s role in a more equal world.
Political pressure has opened the door to progress, but the first year of the new Scottish Government is a test of intent.
Will Ministers strengthen their commitments and take the decisions needed to tackle poverty, inequality and the climate crisis at their roots?
