Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, announced that he would “lead the biggest housebuilding revolution in the history of devolution”.
This depends on him being elected First Minister, but this was part of the speech he addressed to party members at the Scottish Labour Conference in Paisley.
The under-pressure Scottish Labour leader said he would “build 125,000 new homes over the next five years across all tenures”.
The new homes would include social homes, homes for rent and homes to buy.
Other housing policies include a £1 homes scheme to bring derelict properties back into use, and Housing Development Trusts with “the power to act entrepreneurially and deliver homes in every region”.
A significant portion of the speech was focused on NHS reform and The Scottish Government’s response to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital scandal.
He promised a NHS waiting times emergency from “on day one”, and that Scottish medical students on free tuition would be expected to work in “Scotland’s NHS or social care system for at least five years, or repay their tuition support and bursaries.”
Sarwar said: “Because if working people in Scotland, through their taxes, invest in training you, then they should also benefit from your skills.
“That is fairness for taxpayers, fairness for patients, and fairness for NHS staff.”
In a move away from Westminster, he promised that a Scottish Labour Government “will always maintain free tuition.”
Tuition fees for students in England and Wales have been increasing annually with inflation since last year, reaching an estimated £10,050 for the 2027/28 academic year.
On education, Sarwar announced the banning of mobile phones in schools as well as other policies to support school pupils.
He said: “We will get the basics right by making sure every child is ready to learn.
“That means delivering breakfast clubs in every school. So no child starts the school day hungry.
“And that means a renewed focus on reading, writing, maths and science.
“And we will build a better future by giving young people a clear path into skilled, secure work.”
Sarwar also focused on policing, announcing that “community policing” would be restored as “too much police time is taken up responding to mental health crises.”
“That is not right for police, and it is not right for people in crisis.
“They need care from specially trained mental health professionals.”
Scottish Labour currently trail in the polls, with a new poll predicting them to finish as low as fourth place behind the Greens in vote list intentions.
