Working from Home

In a rural area like ours, working from home can be very attractive. Saving time and money without a commute; more time to spend with the family. But there are new considerations - like higher energy costs and the need for good broadband.

What The SNP will do

• Reaching 100% investment programme, revitalising rural communities with super-fast broadband: 3,000 permises reached in our area alone (May-2025).

• Ensuring Scotland’s energy works for you, e.g. with social tarriffs for the most vulnerable, and ensuring every pensioner household will receive a Winter Fuel Payment.

What the UK parties will do*

• Cut broadband investment for rural areas.

• Remove the rural broadband voucher scheme.

• Price energy to be the highest in Europe, despite Scotland's large natural energy wealth.​​

* Based on what they deliver to England​

What Independence will bring

• Significantly reduced costs and improved performance for Broadband.

• On rejoining the EU, access to the Connecting Europe Broadband Fund.

• Cheaper energy - no longer priced on the most expensive source, and benefiting from Scotland's position as a net exporter of renewable energy.

The Evidence

Broadband

Westminster controls broadband for Scotland. It invests less than most other countries in Europe and leaves things to the privatised BT Openreach.

To counter this in Scotland, our Government invested £591m in the R100 Programme for rural broadband.

​In France broadband is a sixth the price for the same performance in the UK.

Energy

Alongside Norway, in Europe Scotland is one of the largest net energy exporters - we produce more energy than we need thanks to our renewable riches. But unlike Norway we have one of the highest levels of Household Fuel Poverty in Europe. Norway has one of the lowest.

With independence Scotland can become more like Norway.