First Minister John Swinney has strongly defended the SNP's proposal to require large supermarkets to cap prices on essential groceries, pushing back against business groups who have labeled the policy a "potty gimmick."
Under the SNP manifesto pledge, major retailers would be compelled to limit costs on 20 to 50 essential items—including milk, eggs, cheese, and rice—to help Scots struggling with the cost of living. Retailers would need to cap at least one variation of each listed product, such as a specific brand of bread, but wouldn't have to apply caps across all brands.
Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland, Swinney rejected criticism from the Scottish Retail Consortium, insisting his party was putting forward "bold" and "tangible" solutions.
"No, it's about helping people who are really struggling in our society today," Swinney said when asked about the "potty gimmick" description. "I'm acutely conscious of the gravity of the cost of living crisis that people are facing in their daily lives, and I'm bringing forward solutions to that in the manifesto."
The first minister highlighted concerns about the "nutritional impact" of rising prices, which have been exacerbated by global factors including conflict in the Middle East affecting food and fuel costs.
However, industry groups have raised significant objections. The Food and Drink Federation Scotland warned the policy carries "a real risk of undermining investment, resilience and food security," while the Scottish Grocers' Federation expressed concern it could "distort the market" and disadvantage smaller local shops. The Institute for Fiscal Studies described the price cap as "very radical and risky," cautioning it could lead to shortages or quality reductions.
Implementation would likely require agreement with Westminster due to UK internal market rules designed to prevent trade barriers between nations. A UK government source called the proposals "incoherent and undeliverable" and suggested they could face legal challenges.
Swinney said his government would consult with industry and UK ministers to find an "agreed way forward," emphasizing he remains "unrelentingly focused" on addressing living costs.
The SNP's broader manifesto includes approximately £1.4 billion in additional spending plans, with over £500 million allocated to expand childcare and more than £200 million to subsidize bus travel. The party says these commitments would be funded through increased tax revenues, additional Westminster funding, and efficiency savings.
However, David Phillips of the Institute for Fiscal Studies noted the SNP "failed to give a credible explanation" of how it would pay for its proposals, warning they would likely require "further tax rises or deeper cuts to lower-priority spending."
The manifesto also reaffirms the SNP's commitment to Scottish independence, with Swinney stating his ambition for a second referendum in 2028 is realistic if the party wins an outright majority in the upcoming election. He argued there is "precedent" for another vote based on the 2014 referendum following the SNP's 2011 majority victory.
"If the UK government accepted in 2014 the result of the election of a majority SNP government in 2011 then that should be good enough in this occasion," Swinney told the BBC.
While the manifesto suggests independence would enable a "fairer and more prosperous" country, Phillips cautioned that while it might boost long-term economic growth, it would likely increase financial pressures initially since Scotland currently benefits from higher public spending per person than other UK regions.