Sarwar in ‘from cradle to career’ vow as manifesto launches Labour’s two-part push for power

Anas Sarwar will pledge to “look after young people from cradle to career” as he sets out Scottish Labour’s two-part vision for power north and south of the Border by revealing his party’s manifesto.

The Scottish Labour leader will insist that young people “should leave education equipped with the skills they need for work and life” no matter what background they have.

The manifesto is unlikely to contain any surprises and new policies other than the blueprint put forward by Labour over the last few weeks. But Mr Sarwar will insist that backing Labour is a vote to “give back hope and opportunity” to young people, and that his manifesto is a “blueprint to a brighter future”.

Anas Sarwar is supporting Angela Rayner's workers rights proposals if Labour forms the next UK government (Photo by Andy Buchanan/PA Wire)

The Scottish Labour leader will claim that more than 200,000 people in Scotland - including 40,000 young people - will receive a pay rise if Labour forms the next Westminster government, with the party previously having committed to ending discriminatory age bands and introducing a genuine living wage.

The party’s manifesto, which will be launched in Edinburgh, will set out the first steps of change that the party claims a UK Labour government would deliver for Scotland.

The document will also look ahead as Mr Sarwar plots a route to Bute House in 2026 in the second of Labour’s two-part push for power at both Westminster and Holyrood.

Anas Sarwar will launch Scottish Labour's manifesto (Photo by Andy Buchanan/PA Wire)

Mr Sarwar will insist that next month’s election will be “an opportunity to deliver change for everyone in Scotland right now”, but stress the vote is “also about the next generation of Scots and the future we build for them”.

He will say the election is a chance to give young people “back hope and opportunity”, and will add: “A vote for Scottish Labour on July 4 is a vote to change Scotland for this generation and the next.”

Mr Sarwar will say: “We will do this by improving access to apprenticeships, supporting first-time buyers, creating those jobs in the industries of the future, and delivering a pay rise for 40,000 young Scots.

“Labour will look after young people from cradle to career.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

“No matter a child’s background they should leave education equipped with the skills they need for work and life.”

He will add: “Labour will spread opportunity at every age, because every child should believe that success belongs to them.  

“Under the Tories, thousands are stuck in poverty pay – and under the SNP youth unemployment has risen, and opportunities have been taken away.

“I promise the young people of Scotland that this is not as good as it gets.

“This election is the chance to deliver a decade of national renewal, and this manifesto is a blueprint to a brighter future.

“It’s an opportunity to change Scotland for this generation – and the next. It’s an opportunity we need to make sure we don’t miss.”

But the SNP has called on Labour to “commit to an emergency child poverty budget immediately following the election - to abolish the two-child cap, reverse Tory welfare cuts, and match the Scottish Child Payment UK-wide” if it forms the next government.

SNP equalities minister, Kaukab Stewart, added: "The Labour party will push thousands of Scottish children into poverty by extending Tory welfare cuts and imposing £18 billion cuts to public services.

"The SNP has put eradicating child poverty at the heart of our election campaign. We've lifted 100,000 children out of poverty with progressive policies like the Scottish Child Payment and Best Start Grant - and it's time for Westminster to reverse the damage they've done.”

Scottish Labour’s manifesto will point to the party’s committed actions to ban exploitative zero hours contracts and day one rights to sick leave, parental leave and unfair dismissal.

The party has also vowed to introduce a permanent new mortgage guarantee scheme to support first time buyers who struggle to save for a large deposit with lower mortgage costs.

Scotland is central to Labour’s plans to transform the UK’s power supply to clean energy by 2030, with publicly-owned power generation company GB Energy to be headquartered north of the Border. Labour has claimed that 69,000 new clean energy jobs could be created.

Labour has set out an ambition that every child, regardless of their background, should experience cultural activities with industrial support for Scotland’s creative industries, improved access to music and sport in schools and new consumer protections to crack down on ticket touts so the arts, culture, and sport are affordable for all.

The party has also called for a reset of the relationship with the EU, with Labour aiming to end unnecessary trade barriers, agree new arrangements for touring artists and seek a new security pact to help keep the UK and Europe safe.

Sir Keir Starmer has also pledged to reform and replace the House of Lords while 16 and 17-year-olds will be able to vote at Westminster elections like they currently can at Holyrood, under his plans.

Labour has also set out plans for 350 banking hubs to be opened in towns and villages across Britain over the next five years. The party said the proposal would “breathe new life back into Britain’s high streets”.

Banking hubs allow staff from several banks to share the same space, helping to fill gaps left in the system from branch closures.

They have a counter service operated by the Post Office, allowing customers to conduct routine banking transactions.

Consumer group Which? said in May that more than 6,000 bank branches had closed since 2015. Also in May, Cash Access UK, an organisation set up to help protect access to cash, announced that the 50th banking hub had opened.

Hubs are recommended by cash access and ATM network Link, which reviews communities based on criteria including numbers of shops, transport links and deprivation.

Cash Access UK is a not-for-profit organisation, owned and funded by major banks.

Some 132 hubs have been recommended so far by Link. Cash Access UK has delivered 56 of the hubs to date, with 76 in development.

From the day a hub is recommended, it typically takes around 12 months to open. In locations where it proves difficult to find a suitable property, Cash Access UK can open temporary hubs, providing the same services by the same team.

Banks participating in each hub operate on a rotational basis, ensuring the presence of staff from different banks on varying days.

Labour is proposing to update qualifying criteria for the creation of banking hubs, as well as exploring how hubs can support financial inclusion through digital training and debt advice.

The party said that it would give new powers to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and strengthen regulation to support Link to proactively source locations for new banking hubs.

Labour said the ambition was part of plans for high streets, which also included cracking down on anti-social behaviour and supporting businesses and communities.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said many high streets “have been reduced to ghost towns”.

She added: “Labour’s plan for growth means bringing banking back to high streets, with hundreds of new banking hubs that can support local communities and their businesses.”

Angela Rayner, Labour’s deputy leader and shadow housing secretary, said: “With our plan to bring banking back to the high street, replace business rates and cut energy bills for good, we will breathe new life back into Britain’s high streets.”

Bim Afolami, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said: “The Conservatives have a clear plan to protect access to cash. We have taken the bold action to ensure we are on track to deliver 225 more banking hubs, ensuring peace of mind and financial security for people.”