The SNP Deputy Leader, Nicola Sturgeon, today pledged to deliver ‘high class public services’ at the STUC conference in Glasgow.

Scottish Labour leader, Jack McConnell, is also due to address the congress with a warning over the economic threat of independence. Sturgeon and McConnell will both tour the conference to meet with trade union activists and discuss policy.

Speaking from the STUC Conference, Ms Sturgeon said:

“It's time for a better value alternative to the costly PFI/PPP. In communities across Scotland we see the real cost of Labour's privatisation agenda, with the loss of vital local health services the unacceptable price Scots are being asked to pay.

“Our new approach will put people before profiteering and communities before centralisation. PFI/PPP means credit card levels of annual interest repayment. That's why we will bring forward plans for a Scottish Futures Trust. This will offer better value finance through bond issue and, I believe, over time crowd out the costly PFI/PPP.

The SNP manifesto states that councils and other public bodies will be able to choose how to fund building projects. Labour claim that the SNP are leaving open the option of PFI/PPP as without it many hospital and school projects would not go ahead.

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