parties are gathering for a special live bbc scotland debate. we'll be hearing from john swinney, the smp, douglas ross for the scottish conservatives, anas sarwar in scottish labour, let's listen in. one general election that could change the country, welcome to a special edition of debate night. live from glasgow, welcome to debate night with scotland's political party leaders. this evening they will go head—to—head in front of an audience comprised of people with different voting intentions, some of them still undecided. joining us this evening we. anas sarwar, leader of scottish labour. lorna slater, co—leader of the scottish greens. douglas ross, leader of the scottish conservatives. and finally, from the scottish liberal democrats, leader alex cole—hamilton. please welcome them to this special live edition of debate night. applause we are live on tv, radio and the iplayer, and you canjoin in the debate on social media wherever you are. the hashtag is bbcdn. so what are the big issues for our audience this evening? let's hear first from the people who havejoined us in the room tonight. the people who will be voting in just a few weeks�* time. in a sentence, what matters most to you? if labour do well in scotland, will we hear for the next few years that independence is over? find we hear for the next few years that independence is over?— we hear for the next few years that independence is over? and the lady next to you. — independence is over? and the lady next to you, what _ independence is over? and the lady next to you, what matters - independence is over? and the lady next to you, what matters most to l next to you, what matters most to you? next to you, what matters most to ou? ~ . , , you? whichever party wins the election, business _ you? whichever party wins the election, business and - you? whichever party wins the i election, business and innovation will be _ election, business and innovation will be central to building a successful economy for us all. you want to hear _ successful economy for us all. you want to hear more _ successful economy for us all. 7m. want to hear more details on that. and the man next to you tonight, what is the most important issue for you? i what is the most important issue for ou? ., ., ~ ., ., what is the most important issue for ou? ., ., 4' ., ., , you? i want to know what the parties will do to improve _ you? i want to know what the parties will do to improve the _ you? i want to know what the parties will do to improve the situation - you? i want to know what the parties will do to improve the situation in . will do to improve the situation in gaza _ will do to improve the situation in gaza. . , ., will do to improve the situation in gaza. ., , ., ., gaza. the lady on the end here, what is the key issue _ gaza. the lady on the end here, what is the key issue for _ gaza. the lady on the end here, what is the key issue for you _ gaza. the lady on the end here, what is the key issue for you in the - is the key issue for you in the election? i is the key issue for you in the election?— election? i appreciate it is a devolved — election? i appreciate it is a devolved issue _ election? i appreciate it is a devolved issue but - election? i appreciate it is a devolved issue but what - election? i appreciate it is a devolved issue but what is i election? i appreciate it is a i devolved issue but what is the election? i appreciate it is a - devolved issue but what is the plan to make sure everyone in scotland has a place to call home?- to make sure everyone in scotland has a place to call home? thank you for all of that. _ i'm sure we will have more on those subjects when we get onto the questions. we will go through three main areas that we know you want to talk about — the economy, public services and the future of scotland. the aim is to help you get some answers and make your mind up, ahead of the 4th ofjuly. but first, let's hear opening statements from the party leaders. we drew lots earlier to determine the order, so let's start with lorna slater... tonight's debate isn't about politicians, it's about you. you and your family's future. a vote for the scottish greens is a vote to tackle the climate crisis. no new drilling for oil and gas, and a switch to 100% renewable energy. it's a vote to make the wealthiest contribute more — to invest in our schools, hospitals and buses. it's a vote to build on our work that has already lifted 100,000 children in scotland out of poverty. the tories, snp and labour have let you down. we are offering an alternative — one that builds a greener, and more equal future. vote like your future depends on it. vote for the scottish greens. thank you. and next, the leader of scottish labour, anas sarwar. it's time for change. injust over three weeks, we can finally get rid of this rotten tory government. that's an opportunity scotland can't afford to miss. a labour government will end tax loopholes for the super—rich, so we put more money into our nhs and cut waiting times. we'll lower bills for good by having our own energy company, headquartered here in scotland, owned by you. and we'll make work pay by giving a pay rise to more than 200,000 scots. we can't risk another five years of the tories. so every vote for scottish labour is a vote to make sure we get rid of the tories, to put scotland at the heart of a labour government, and to deliver the change our country needs. thank you. let's hear nexus evening from the leader of the conservatives, douglas ross. —— next this evening. i want the next five years to be all about delivering action - on the issues that really matter to you. - creating good jobs. cutting tax. - reducing nhs waiting lists. fixing the roads. _ investing in schools. in many seats across scotland, it's a straight fight _ between my party and the snp. i if the snp win, they'll claim every. seat as a mandate for independence. they'll be distracted from the local issues you care about most. - so in key seats up and down- scotland, if everyone who wants to beat the snp votes together for the scottish conservatives, | we can end their obsession. with independence for good. vote scottish conservative to beat the snp and get the focus - onto your priorities. thank you. next this evening, let's hear from the first minister of scotland, the leader of the snp, john swinney. spending cuts, brexit and the cost of living have all hit people hard. each is a product of decisions made in westminster. as your first minister, i want to deliver the best future for scotland. the snp has doubled front—line funding forthe nhs, expanded childcare and protected free tuition and free prescriptions. but westminster still holds most of scotland's purse—strings. independent experts are warning that labour and the conservatives are not being straight with you about massive spending cuts that are to come. we are arguing for no more cuts and to reverse brexit, so we can raise living standards. independence would give us the power to address all these issues. so vote snp to put scotland's interests first vote for a future made in scotland — for scotland. thank you. and last but not least, let's hear from the leader of the scottish liberal democrats, alex cole—hamilton. people ask me why i'm always smiling — why, when politics is such a serious business, the liberal democrats seem to enjoy it so much. well, the simple reason is we love what we do. serving our communities is why we get up in the morning. in the next parliament, we'll be working for a better britain, to restore your faith in politics and fix our broken relationship with europe. we'll get you fast access to gps and dentists, and give our nation's carers a fair deal. we'll stop sewage being dumped in our rivers, and deliver world—class education. only the scottish liberal democrats can beat the snp in huge swathes of scotland, from cupar to cape wrath, milngavie to mallaig, cramond to kirkwall. hope and change are just around the corner, you only need to vote for them. thank you. now it is over to our audience. we want to make the most of the rest of this hour, so i'd ask you to keep your answers focussed and to show respect for each other and the audience by not talking over each other. let's have our first question, which comes from janice deanie. on the economy. how will your party reduce the cost of living, as the majority _ of working—class families are constantly struggling | in the present climate? thank you. john swinney? a number of the thins thank you. john swinney? a number of the things we — thank you. john swinney? a number of the things we have _ thank you. john swinney? a number of the things we have already _ thank you. john swinney? a number of the things we have already done - thank you. john swinney? a number of the things we have already done and i the things we have already done and are helping with the cost of living, whether it is about the provision of free prescriptions, for example, all the support we give to university students to go through their university education without paying tuition fees. we have taken additional measures to focus directly on the cost of the school day, for example, and trying to reduce that the school children and families. the scottish child payment, which we put in place because we were prepared to increase got taxes in scotland to get higher earners to pay more in taxation is keeping 100,000 children out of poverty within scotland and a lot of those children will be in families where parents are working but they are not earning enough to provide sufficiently for their families. could it go further, could it increase?— could it go further, could it increase? the scottish child payment has been increased _ increase? the scottish child payment has been increased to _ increase? the scottish child payment has been increased to £26 _ increase? the scottish child payment has been increased to £26 a - increase? the scottish child payment has been increased to £26 a week - increase? the scottish child payment has been increased to £26 a week for eligible children and it has increased, the original proposition was for it to be set at £5 and we have increased it to £26. we have used the resources available to us by taking a hard decision on increasing taxation for higher earners, to make sure we can provide the support that makes a difference directly into families and households to support those families facing difficulty. of course, that is in addition to some of the work we have also done, for example in writing of the debt that exists around free school meals, where families have debts about school meals, we have written is up to make sure there is direct support going into individual households. so we want to make sure that the measures we take within the scottish government are feeding directly into family budget. but what worries me about what lies ahead is there is the threat of more spending cuts which will affect our ability to do that, and independent experts say there will be £18 billion of cuts after this election, whether the conservatives or the labour party form the government. we have to say no to that and we can say no to that by voting for the scottish national party. by voting for the scottish national pa . �* , by voting for the scottish national pa . �*, party. let's give douglas ross a chance to _ party. let's give douglas ross a chance to respond _ party. let's give douglas ross a chance to respond to _ party. let's give douglas ross a chance to respond to that. - party. let's give douglas ross a chance to respond to that. it - party. let's give douglas ross a chance to respond to that. it is| party. let's give douglas ross a l chance to respond to that. it is an important — chance to respond to that. it is an important issue. we have gone through— important issue. we have gone through global events which have put a real— through global events which have put a real strain on our economy and has had a _ a real strain on our economy and has had a huge _ a real strain on our economy and has had a huge impact on people in this room and _ had a huge impact on people in this room and across the country. if we look at _ room and across the country. if we look at the — room and across the country. if we look at the covid pandemic and the war in— look at the covid pandemic and the war in ukraine, there has been a massive — war in ukraine, there has been a massive shock to not only our domestic— massive shock to not only our domestic economy but economies across— domestic economy but economies across the — domestic economy but economies across the globe. the government at across the globe. the government at a uk level— across the globe. the government at a uk level have tried to provide some _ a uk level have tried to provide some universal support and some targeted — some universal support and some targeted support. at this election, we have _ targeted support. at this election, we have seen the uk conservatives reducing _ we have seen the uk conservatives reducing national insurance in both the autumn statement and the spring budget— the autumn statement and the spring budget and a commitment to reduce that further going forward because i think by— that further going forward because i think by allowing people to keep more _ think by allowing people to keep more of— think by allowing people to keep more of their own money on their own pockets, _ more of their own money on their own pockets, that— more of their own money on their own pockets, that helps them through these _ pockets, that helps them through these difficult times. but we not through— these difficult times. but we not through the most difficult period and it— through the most difficult period and it is— through the most difficult period and it is right that we all come as parties. _ and it is right that we all come as parties, focus on helping individuals, families and communities. we may take different approaches to that but i think there will he _ approaches to that but i think there will be agreement that this has been a particularly difficult period for people — a particularly difficult period for people across the country and there is more _ people across the country and there is more to— people across the country and there is more to do. that is why when i was making — is more to do. that is why when i was making my introductory remarks, i was making my introductory remarks, i was _ was making my introductory remarks, i was focusing on the issues that really— i was focusing on the issues that really matter to people and that is improving — really matter to people and that is improving our public services, by making _ improving our public services, by making sure there is the opportunity for people _ making sure there is the opportunity for people to see a local gp, to see investment— for people to see a local gp, to see investment in their local area, to grow— investment in their local area, to grow the — investment in their local area, to grow the economy, to make sure we have more _ grow the economy, to make sure we have more money to spend on our public— have more money to spend on our public services here in scotland and help people through the difficult and challenging times they are facing — and challenging times they are facina. , , ,., , facing. ok, if this is something is affectin: facing. ok, if this is something is affecting you _ facing. ok, if this is something is affecting you at — facing. ok, if this is something is affecting you at the _ facing. ok, if this is something is affecting you at the moment - facing. ok, if this is something is affecting you at the moment in i facing. ok, if this is something is i affecting you at the moment in your lives and your family's lives, we would like to hearfrom lives and your family's lives, we would like to hear from your experiences this evening. anas sarwar, john swinney says there is an £18 billion cut to spending and is that true?— an £18 billion cut to spending and is that true? no, and there will be no austerity _ is that true? no, and there will be no austerity under— is that true? no, and there will be no austerity under a _ is that true? no, and there will be no austerity under a labour- no austerity under a labour government _ no austerity under a labour government. we _ no austerity under a labour government. we saw- no austerity under a labour government. we saw the i no austerity under a labour— government. we saw the consequences of t ow— government. we saw the consequences of tory austerity _ government. we saw the consequences of tory austerity on — government. we saw the consequences of tory austerity on this _ government. we saw the consequences of tory austerity on this country - of tory austerity on this country and how— of tory austerity on this country and how it — of tory austerity on this country and how it devastated - of tory austerity on this country and how it devastated local- of tory austerity on this country - and how it devastated local budgets and how it devastated local budgets and saw _ and how it devastated local budgets and saw the — and how it devastated local budgets and saw the consequences - and how it devastated local budgets and saw the consequences of - and saw the consequences of austerity— and saw the consequences of austerity imposed _ and saw the consequences of austerity imposed by- and saw the consequences of austerity imposed byjohn . and saw the consequences of - austerity imposed byjohn swinney when _ austerity imposed byjohn swinney when he _ austerity imposed byjohn swinney when he was — austerity imposed byjohn swinney when he was finance _ austerity imposed byjohn swinney when he was finance secretary. . austerity imposed byjohn swinneyl when he was finance secretary. but the reason — when he was finance secretary. but the reason why— when he was finance secretary. but the reason why issue _ when he was finance secretary. but the reason why issue is so - when he was finance secretary. but. the reason why issue is so important .oes the reason why issue is so important goes to— the reason why issue is so important goes to the — the reason why issue is so important goes to the heart— the reason why issue is so important goes to the heart of— the reason why issue is so important goes to the heart of the _ the reason why issue is so important goes to the heart of the campaign i goes to the heart of the campaign is the result— goes to the heart of the campaign is the result of— goes to the heart of the campaign is the result of tory— goes to the heart of the campaign is the result of tory economic - goes to the heart of the campaign is the result of tory economic carnage| the result of tory economic carnage means— the result of tory economic carnage means the — the result of tory economic carnage means the average _ the result of tory economic carnage means the average household - the result of tory economic carnage - means the average household mortgage has gone _ means the average household mortgage has gone up _ means the average household mortgage has gone up by— means the average household mortgage has gone up by over— means the average household mortgage has gone up by over £2000 _ means the average household mortgage has gone up by over £2000 in— has gone up by over £2000 in scotland — has gone up by over £2000 in scotland over— has gone up by over £2000 in scotland over the _ has gone up by over £2000 in scotland over the last - has gone up by over £2000 in scotland over the last year. i scotland over the last year. household _ scotland over the last year. household bills, _ scotland over the last year. household bills, in - scotland over the last year. house