Policy Platform
The SNP's policy base is mostly in the mainstream European social-democratic mould. For example, among its policies are a commitment to unilateral nuclear disarmament, progressive personal taxation, the eradication of poverty, free state education including support grants for higher education students and a pay increase for nurses. It is also committed to an independent Scotland being a full member state of the European Union, to the country joining the Euro currency at the appropriate exchange rate both of which are not guaranteed but rather subject to negotiation should the country become independent. The SNP has historically been opposed to membership of Nato, as part and parcel of its opposition to nuclear weapons, however in its 2012 autumn conference a vote saw party policy change to support of Nato, on the precondition of the removal of all nuclear weapons from Scottish bases.
Contrary to the expectations of many outside the party, the SNP is not expressly republican, and its general view is that this is an issue secondary to that of Scottish independence. Many SNP members are republicans, however, and both the party student and youth wings are expressly so.However, the current stance of the SNP is that an independent Scotland would retain the monarchy which it currently has as part of the United Kingdom.
In August 2009 as part of its third legislative term in the Scottish Parliament, the Government proposes to debate the Scottish referendum bill 2010, which would set out a planned referendum for 30th November 2010 on the issue of Scottish independence. It was not however expected to pass, due to opposition from all the major opposition parties in the Parliament.
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