General election manifesto: Liberal Democrats pledge rail fares freeze, increased spending on public services and tougher climate change targets

The Liberal Democrats have launched their manifesto for the general election with pledges to freeze rail fares, tackle climate change and increase spending on health and education.

Launched under the slogan ‘Stop Brexit, Build A Brighter Future’, one of the key policies is to cancel Brexit, with the words ‘STOP BREXIT’ appearing across the front of the manifesto.

The party also pledged to create a new written, federal UK constitution and says it would extend the involvement of the Scottish Government and Welsh Assembly in the development of UK-wide policy frameworks, including on drug policy and student visas.

Among the other policies were a pledge to freeze rail fares for commuters and season ticket-holders for the duration of the next parliament, but to introduce a new levy on frequent flyers.

The party is promising to ensure that 80 per cent of electricity in the UK is generated from renewables by 2030 and it would set a binding target of net-zero UK greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 – the same as in Scotland.

The party also set out plans to give mental health the same priority as physical health, to take a “public health approach” to stopping violent crime and to legalise cannabis.

Many of the specific promises, such as £10bn to recruit 20,000 new teachers, £1.bn for free school meals, £7bn more a year for the NHS and £15bn to retrofit 26 million homes to make them more energy efficient would not directly affect Scotland because they relate to devolved areas.

However, the increase in spending in the rest of the UK would result in an increase in the Scottish budget, meaning more money would be available to spend in Scotland too.

Some of the extra spending would be funded by what the Lib Dems are calling a ‘remain bonus’ of £50bn, which is the amount they say the UK would gain by staying in the EU compared to leaving.

Speaking ahead of the manifesto launch, Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson said: “This manifesto is a bold plan to build a brighter future for our country, and that starts with stopping Brexit.

“Labour and the Conservatives can't offer the country a brighter future because they both want Brexit. We know that will be bad for our economy, bad for our NHS and bad for our environment.”

She added: “Our politics has been dominated by the two, tired old parties for too long.

“This election provides an opportunity to change the future of our country and build a brighter future with the Liberal Democrats.”