Scottish election debate bypasses talk of transport in row over investment

The leaders of Scotland's political parties clashed in the first Scottish leaders debate over the need for more investment - but focused on education and the health service.

The Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who is not committed to introducing a 50p income tax rate next year, came under fire from Labour, the Lib Dems and the Green Party. The Lib Dems, for example, said there was a need for a "transformation" of education. The Scottish Government will from next April have powers to set income tax rates.

Sturgeon, as she launched the SNP's campaign, outlined plans reported in the Scottish press to increase the frontline health budget in each year of the next Parliament and to invest an extra £750m to close a gap in attainment in education. The SNP would not raise the threshold for paying the higher tax rate as the Chancellor will in England, but the ruling party believes that increasing the rate would reduce the overall tax cut.

The main reported mention of transport so far in the campaign has been from Scottish Labour, which set out plans for a national smart card - only for transport operators to say days after that they have started working on this and will introduce it over the next year.