Scottish Labour has formally launched its 2026 election manifesto, placing technology and digital skills at the centre of its vision for Scotland’s future. The document, released ahead of the May 2026 Scottish Parliament Election, outlines ambitious plans to modernise the National Health Service (NHS), boost digital literacy, and stimulate business growth through targeted tech investments.
NHS Digital Transformation: A £680m Commitment
One of the manifesto’s flagship promises is a £680 million ring-fenced fund dedicated exclusively to digital and technological improvements within the NHS. The party argues that Scotland’s health service has been left behind in the analogue age, and that modernisation is essential for improving patient outcomes and operational efficiency.
Among the specific initiatives is acceleration of work on Scotland’s own NHS app. Labour pledges that every health board will be able to use the app within the first 100 days after the election. This app is intended to give patients easier access to appointments, prescriptions, and health records, reducing administrative burdens on GPs and hospital staff.
The manifesto also proposes a “virtual hospital programme” that allows patients to attend outpatient consultations from home, using video conferencing and remote monitoring tools. This builds on lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many consultations moved online, but seeks to make remote care a permanent and integrated part of the system.
Another key element is the creation of a single patient record – a unified digital file that follows the patient across different healthcare providers. Currently, fragmented records often lead to repeated tests and delays in treatment. A single digital record, Labour says, will improve coordination, reduce errors, and save clinicians valuable time.
The party also promises to expand the use of wearable technology for patients with chronic conditions. These devices can monitor vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels, allowing patients to manage their health at home and alert clinicians only when intervention is needed. Additionally, investment in AI-enabled diagnostic scanners is pledged, with the aim of speeding up detection of diseases such as cancer.
Digital Skills and Economic Growth
Beyond the NHS, the manifesto addresses the broader digital skills gap in Scotland. Labour proposes a Digital Skills Passport – a portable digital record that captures an individual’s qualifications, training, work experience, and skill levels. This passport can be shared with employers and used to transition between jobs, making it easier for workers to prove their capabilities in a rapidly changing labour market. It will also be available to students undertaking apprenticeships.
To help businesses adopt new technologies, the party pledges £15 million in digital adoption funding. This fund is intended to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) improve productivity through software, automation, and data analytics. Labour also promises to launch a single industrial strategy in partnership with businesses, replacing what it describes as a fragmented approach under previous governments.
The manifesto also expands the Techscaler programme, originally launched in July 2022 by then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Techscaler is a network of startup incubators spread across key Scottish cities including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, Stirling, Aberdeen, Dumfries, and Inverness. Labour plans to extend the network to areas that currently lack coverage, prioritising regions where it can have the most impact on business growth. Dedicated support for creative technology businesses – such as those in gaming, immersive media, and digital arts – is also promised.
Digital Inclusion: Closing the Participation Gap
Scottish Labour acknowledges that digital access and skills are crucial for modern participation in society. It criticises the current government for losing urgency in tackling digital exclusion. To address this, the manifesto proposes a digital mentors’ network, where volunteers based in community spaces such as supermarkets, libraries, and community centres offer targeted assistance to those less likely to seek help. This aims to reach elderly people, low-income families, and others who may be digitally isolated.
Another innovative idea is the creation of “digital playgrounds” in public spaces like libraries and museums. These spaces would be equipped with digital equipment – computers, tablets, 3D printers, coding kits – where young people can safely engage with technology and learn essential skills outside the formal classroom. The aim is to foster curiosity and innovation from an early age.
Labour also proposes to embed digital skills in the school curriculum, ensuring students learn how to ethically use technology and navigate risks associated with AI and social media. In a controversial move, the party also plans to ban mobile phones in classrooms across Scotland, arguing that they are a distraction that hinders learning and social interaction. This mirrors similar moves in other countries, such as France and some Australian states.
Governance and Accountability
Under a Labour government, every local authority in Scotland would be required to appoint a digital champion. This individual would be responsible for coordinating digital inclusion policy and connectivity at the local level, ensuring that no community is left behind as digital services expand. The manifesto argues that a top-down approach alone is insufficient; local leadership is essential to adapt solutions to specific regional challenges.
The party claims that its tech-led plans can close Scotland’s economic performance gap and deliver between £600 million and £700 million in additional spending on public services by 2030/31. “This economic growth would be delivered through our plans to transform skills and employability, overhaul planning, increase innovation and improve productivity through adoption of new technologies,” the manifesto states. “This would all be underpinned by our new industrial strategy and a relentless focus on business growth from the Cabinet down to refocused government agencies.”
Historical and Political Context
Scotland has a mixed track record in digital public services. The Scottish Government’s Digital Strategy, published in 2021, set out ambitious goals for a personalised public services app, an ethical AI framework, and increased data sharing across the public sector. However, progress has been slow, with critics pointing to fragmented IT systems in the NHS and persistent digital divides in rural and deprived urban areas.
The Techscaler programme, while praised for supporting startups, has been accused of being too focused on the central belt. Labour’s expansion promise addresses this geographic concern, though details on funding and timeline are yet to be released.
The 2026 election is expected to be a close contest between the Scottish National Party (SNP), which has governed since 2007, and Scottish Labour, which is seeking to regain ground under new leadership. Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, has made technology a key plank of his campaign, positioning the party as the natural choice for innovation and modernisation. The SNP’s own manifesto is yet to be published, but it is expected to defend its record on digital health and education initiatives.
Reactions and Implications
Tech industry bodies in Scotland have largely welcomed the manifesto. The Scottish Tech Ecosystem group called the pledges “a step in the right direction,” though it cautioned that delivery would require sustained commitment beyond election cycles. The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Scotland said it “cautiously supports” the NHS digital investment but warned that new technology must not replace staff-patient interaction or be used to justify cuts to frontline services.
Digital inclusion charities such as the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) praised the digital mentors network and digital playgrounds concept, but noted that funding for community-based initiatives often proves difficult to sustain year after year.
Business groups including the Scottish Chambers of Commerce emphasised the need for the £15m digital adoption fund to be easy to access for small businesses, with minimal bureaucratic hurdles. They also called for clarity on how the industrial strategy will relate to existing UK-wide schemes such as the UK Digital Strategy and the Scottish National Investment Bank.
Looking Ahead
As the election campaign heats up, Scottish Labour’s manifesto will face scrutiny over its costings and feasibility. The party claims the £680m NHS tech fund will come from reallocating existing budgets and from the economic growth generated by its policies, but independent economists have yet to assess these figures.
Technology is likely to remain a central theme in the debate, especially after the pandemic exposed both the potential and the pitfalls of rapid digitalisation. Whether Scottish Labour can deliver on its promises remains to be seen, but the manifesto clearly signals that the party intends to position itself as the champion of a digitally empowered Scotland.
Source: ComputerWeekly.com News