What promises do parties make for children and young people in their manifestos?

Date: 1st May 2026
Category: General measures of implementation, General principles, Civil Rights and Freedoms, Violence against children, Family Environment and Alternative Care, Disability, Basic Health and Welfare, Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities, Special protection measures

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As Scotland heads towards the next election, Together wanted to highlight what commitments parties have made for children and young people. Using Together’s Children’s Rights Manifesto as a framework, we looked across a sample of parties’ election manifestos to provide a quick summary of promises they have made.

In alphabetical order:

Scottish Conservatives

The Scottish Conservatives highlight continuity in key areas, including maintaining The Promise until 2030. They also support the expansion of breakfast clubs in all primary schools.

• Scottish Conservative Manifesto

Scottish Greens

The Scottish Greens outline a wide-ranging set of proposals centred on rights, wellbeing and equality. Their commitments include increasing the Scottish Child Payment to £40, with a longer‑term ambition of £55 by 2030, and expanding free school meals to all primary and secondary pupils. They also call for an independent right for children and young people to opt out of religious observance, improved mental health support in schools and for LGBTQ+ young people, and a refreshed national action plan on internet safety shaped directly by children and young people. The party also supports strengthened youth work provision.

• Scottish Greens Manifesto

Scottish Labour

Scottish Labour’s pledges focus on reducing barriers to learning and improving support for pupils with additional needs. Their manifesto includes reviewing school meal debt, expanding free school meals to secondary pupils, and establishing breakfast clubs in every primary school. They also commit to investing in special educational needs provision, improving financial education for pupils, and delivering The Promise for care‑experienced children and young people.

• Scottish Labour Manifesto

Scottish Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats focus on participation, safety and mental health. Their proposals include giving young people a stronger voice in policymaking through the Scottish Youth Parliament, supporting high‑quality Bairns’ Hooses, tackling violence against women and girls, and defending human rights legislation. They also highlight the need to address gaps in children’s mental health services and propose film‑style age ratings for social media platforms intended to improve online safety.

• Scottish Liberal Democrats Manifesto

Scottish National Party (SNP)

The SNP emphasises commitments to eradicating child poverty, keeping children, women and girls safe from violence, and safeguarding LGBTQ+ people. Their plans include investing in social housing, expanding mental health support for children and young people, and protecting young people from harmful online content. They also reaffirm their commitment to the Bairns’ Hoose model, designed to reduce trauma for children involved in the justice system.

• Scottish National Party (SNP) Manifesto

Conclusion

While the manifestos that we reviewed differ in emphasis, many share common ground on mental health, safety, participation and tackling poverty. There is also a strong commitment to improve the quality of education across Scottish schools in all of the parties' manifestos.

We were pleased to see that many of the calls found in Together’s Children’s Rights Manifesto, were also included in party manifestos, although we recognise that these were not always framed in terms of children’s rights.

We call on the next Scottish Parliament to keep its commitments to children and young people through implementing a child rights-based approach, putting future policies and laws within the scope of the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024. Regardless of the outcome of this election, parties should commit to work together to fully uphold children’s rights.

·       Access Together’s children’s rights manifesto and find all of our member’s manifestos