UKIP Scotland 2016 manifesto: key points

UKIP Scotland's manifesto promises cutting of red tape and "sham democracy", but falls short of abolishing the Scottish Parliament.

"The tentacles of the EU stretch into almost every area of our national life," claims the UKIP manifesto for the Scottish Parliament election, and the document lays out how the party would tackle this.

Warning against "independence by accident", UKIP would prevent any further powers being devolved to the Scottish Parliament. The party disagreed with the Smith Commission's proposals, but says it will "work to use the powers" in the best interests of Scotland. This is a contrast from its 2015 general election manifesto, which stated the devolved parliament was "past its sell-by date".

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The party would introduce a new middle rate of income tax of 30p for those earning between £45,300 and £55,000, as a "long term aspiration", and would oppose any moves to make taxes higher in Scotland than the rest of the UK. Scottish budgets should balanced, says the party, who would only borrow for infrastructure or capotal projects, never for ongoing costs. The use of private financing for infrastructure would be halted, and the party would seek to exclude the NHS from TTIP trade negotiations at the EU.

Business rates would be cut by the party, cutting "red tape" for small businesses and farmers. 

UKIP would scrap free university tuition, set a target for affordable housebuilding using a "Brown Field First" policy.

Recent land reforms would be repealed by UKIP, as well as airgun licencing.

 Public service pay would be tightly regulated, including among council officials, and local referenda would be introduced to empower communities to evict travellers and oppose wind farms.

Other proposals include raising the drink driving limit and reintroducing smoking in pubs, weekly bin collections and introducing a 12-mile zone around the UK's coast in which no other country would be allowed to fish.