Skip to content
City PM
  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • Markets
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • DE
  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • Markets
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • DE
Friday 08 April 2016 9:33 am

Scottish election: Ukip’s Nigel Farage unveils plans to woo Scots, including a lower drink driver limit and rolling back the smoking ban

By: James Nickerson

Add as a preferred source on Google

Trying to reposition his party for a post-EU referendum world, Nigel Farage has unveiled the UK Independence Party's Scottish manifesto, pledging to increase the drink driver limit and get rid of the smoking ban.

He's offering guaranteed jobs for those who served in the armed forces in the police or prison service, as well as pledging to ditch airgun licences.

And, he also said the party would introduce an intermediate 30p tax rate for those earning between £45,300 and £55,000.

In the 32-page manifesto, Ukip also want to push local authorities in Scotland to offer half an hour of free parking in city and town centres.

Read more: Party campaigns get up and running in local elections

It's thought that Farage is trying to rebrand the party and assert that it stands for more than just leaving the European Union.

That might be wise, given it's been widely thought of as Ukip's sole proposition since its creation in 1991 (albeit under a different name: The Anti-Federalist League).

Farage also said Brexit would give Scotland control over issues such as fishing and agriculture, two of the biggest areas under EU control.

"There is only one independence party in British politics, there is only one independence party in Scottish politics. What we are fighting for is to get some voices in Holyrood," Farage said.

"We are the only party fighting for Scotland to have more devolved issues, because it is only by leaving the European Union that Holyrood will take control of Scottish fishing and Scottish agriculture, being perhaps the first two clearest examples.

"If you believe in independence at any level — even if you believe in Scotland being separated from the United Kingdom — then the first step to that meaning anything is leaving the EU," he added.

Read more: The Green party has ridiculed party leaders

Farage wants the UK to know that immigration, democracy, schools, public spending and housing are all key issues for his party.

He's also attacked the government's leaflet that will cost £9m of taxpayer money.

But Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said: "It’s quite clear that they don’t care about Scotland. They are using the Holyrood elections to fight the Euro referendum and everybody knows it."

Share this article

  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Email

Similarly tagged content:

Sections

  • News

Categories

  • Business
  • Politics

Trending Articles

  • Citroën 2CV returns as a £13,000 electric car, and the timing is no accident

  • The former African gold miner taking on the billionaire Issa brothers

  • Music tycoon Simon Cowell sued by prominent City lawyer

  • Exclusive: Big Four giant KPMG to cut more jobs

  • Easyjet proves too tempting a bargain for gatecrasher Apollo

More from City PM

  • Nigel Farage calls for General Election after Starmer replacement

    Politics
    Nigel Farage’s party won a barnstorming victory in previously-Tory Kent in May’s local elections, alongside nine other county councils, in part over promises to slash spending. (Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images)
  • ‘If you find yourself stuck in politics, the thing to do is start a fight’

    Politics
    Nigel Farage is furious
  • Exclusive: Government to reject Reform’s offer to cover Farage by-election cost

    Politics
    Nigel Farage speaking at a podium, dressed in a suit, addressing an audience at a business conference event
  • Starmer: X is responsible for fake Farage and Bailey fight images 

    Politics
    Nigel Farage and Suella Braverman in discussion at a political event wearing formal attire, highlighting political collabo...
  • Farage quits to stand in ‘people versus establishment’ by-election

    Politics
    George Cottrell and Nigel Farage engaging in a conversation at a political event, both dressed in formal attire.
  • Nigel Farage asks the crudest question: are you with me or against me?

    Opinion
    Nigel Farage speaking at a podium during a press conference, addressing current political issues and public concerns
  • Investors in Farage-backed Bitcoin venture get burnt after stock slides 

    Crypto
    Nigel Farage
  • Reform UK vows to raise VAT threshold to £150,000

    Politics
    Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK

City PM — European politics, business and analysis.

Europe

  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • UK & Ireland

Topics

  • Business
  • Markets
  • AI
  • Technology
  • Opinion
  • Energy

More

  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Fintech
  • Legal
  • Sport
  • Life

Company

  • About City PM
  • Editorial Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
© 2026 City PM · Published by CityPM Media, Bahnhofstrasse 65, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
About · Editorial Policy · Corrections · Contact · Privacy · Facebook