Stephen Flynn, the SNP’s Westminster leader, is due to hold a photocall in London later this morning, with a van displaying an advert calling on Scots to “Vote SNP to sack Starmer”.
Labour, however, used the 100-day milestone to launch a sustained attack on the SNP’s record on health, with Anas Sarwar warning that Scotland had “100 days to save our NHS”.
The Scottish Labour leader said the Scottish Government had “broken the founding promise” of the health service after nearly two decades in power, accusing ministers of presiding over spiralling waiting lists, overcrowded emergency departments and a growing reliance on private care.
The first Scotland-wide polls of 2026 suggest the SNP remains on course for a fifth term in government, thanks to a fragmented opposition.
Mr Sarwar’s party has been badly damaged by the unpopularity of the UK Government, putting Labour in a fight for second place with Reform.
In a statement, Mr Robertson claimed the Scottish Government was already turning a corner on health and the cost of living.
He said: “As the Labour Party tears itself apart, momentum is behind the SNP, with Scots uniting behind John Swinney’s strong leadership that is focussed on our NHS, the cost of living crisis and offering Scots a fresh start through independence.
“Under John Swinney’s leadership our NHS has started to turn a corner and Scots continue to receive the best cost of living support in the UK — that’s what the relentless focus of John Swinney on the priorities of the people of Scotland brings.
“Anas Sarwar bent over backwards to defend every disastrous decision Keir Starmer made — what you see with the London boss is exactly what you get with the branch manager.”
Angus Robertson is the SNP’s campaign director (Image: PA)
In his own 100-day statement, Mr Sarwar said: “Thousands of Scots have been forced to spend their savings going private, while others suffer on waiting lists for months or even years on end.
“This cannot go on, but if the SNP win a third decade in government, this misery will continue and painful delays will remain the norm.
“The stakes in this election could not be higher — the fact is we have 100 days to save our NHS.”
Conservative leader Russell Findlay, meanwhile, urged Scots to use the election to “end two decades of division and failure”.
Marking the countdown, Mr Findlay said the country was paying the price for high taxes, failing public services and what he called a “disastrous” nationalist government.
He said: “Scots are forced to pay more than ever in tax, yet our NHS is in permanent crisis, our roads are crumbling and classroom violence is out of control.
“The Scottish Conservatives are fighting to bring down bills for hard-pressed households and businesses.
“Tackling the SNP’s out-of-control benefits bill would stimulate the economic growth needed to fund vital services.
“We are the only party offering a common-sense alternative to the failed left-wing consensus.”
Scottish Green co-leader Gillian Mackay said the election should be about tackling inequality and the cost of living, accusing the political system of allowing wealth to concentrate in the hands of a few while most families struggled.
“This is one of the wealthiest societies there has ever been, but most people are not feeling the benefits of it,” she said.
“Instead, a small number of people and companies are getting richer while people and families all over our country are really struggling. Whether it is spiralling energy bills or the price of the weekly shop, it is becoming harder to get by.”
Gillian Mackay said the cost of living should be front and centre (Image: Jeff Mitchell/Getty images)
The Liberal Democrats launched a leaflet campaign under the slogan “Change with fairness at its heart”, focusing on health, transport, education and the cost of living, and targeting the regional list vote, where the party hopes to make gains.
Leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said voters were “tired and frustrated” by public service failures.
“Scotland has so much going for it. But right now it feels like our country simply is not working.
“Household bills are soaring. The long waits to see your GP. The national embarrassment of the ferries fiasco. And Scottish education just is not what it used to be.
“People right across our country are tired and frustrated. They are right to be.”
Meanwhile, the director of a leading charity has urged political parties to put reducing child poverty “front and centre of their manifestos”.
With 100 days until the Holyrood election, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation released a new report showing that in 2023/24, 20% of people in Scotland were living in poverty.
The figure was lower than in England and Wales, at 22%, but higher than Northern Ireland, at 17%.
Research found poverty rates in Scotland were kept down by relatively low housing costs and higher rates of social renting. However, it also revealed Scotland has one of the highest proportions of workless households, while those in work tend to earn less.
The Scottish figure was down one percentage point on the previous year, but remains above typical pre-pandemic levels of 18% to 19%.
Chris Birt, associate director for Scotland at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said people across the country were “facing real hardship”.
“With just 100 days until the Holyrood election, the clock is ticking for Scotland’s politicians to commit to bold and radical action, which is urgently needed to tackle poverty head-on,” he said.
“All parties must put reducing child poverty front and centre of their manifestos and seize the opportunity to improve the lives of all Scotland’s children by setting out action at the scale and ambition needed to build a better future.”
