Legislation to cap the prices of essential food will be in place by the end of this year if the SNP wins the election, John Swinney has said.
One of the First Minister’s key pledges ahead of the May 7 vote is to put a ceiling on up to 50 food items using public health powers, to tackle the cost of living.
Critics – including the UK Government – have questioned the policy, which could face a potential legal threat from retailers.
Speaking at the STUC Congress in Dundee on Tuesday, the First Minister said he is “not afraid to take on vested interests”.
He said: “That’s why I will use public health powers to introduce a maximum price for essential food items.
“We will convene a gathering of supermarkets, public health experts, poverty campaigners and farmers within days of forming the next government, and the legislation for the price cap will be in place this year.”
Given the required level of consultation with the retail industry and a more than two-month parliamentary recess over the summer, aiming to pass the legislation in 2026 is ambitious – especially if the SNP fails to win the majority it is aiming for and is forced to work with other parties to implement the plans.
Most legislation also does not generally come into force immediately, with potential legal action pushing any implementation date further into the future.
Addressing trade unionists, the First Minister added: “There are some who have criticised this policy, but Congress, I will take forward fair food pricing because it is, quite simply, the right thing to do.
A re-elected SNP government will protect free prescriptions, free eye tests, free tuition, free bus travel, lower Council Tax, free school meals, the Baby Box and funded childcare, while going further to help families with the cost of living.
— The SNP (@theSNP) April 20, 2026
Make it #BothVotesSNP on May 7 for a… pic.twitter.com/BvtnRPtyLv
“I believe it will be transformational in these tough times.
“That is the sort of bold vision that you should rightly expect from your government.”
David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: “We have amongst the most affordable grocery prices in western Europe thanks to stiff competition between supermarkets.
“The challenge facing food retailers is a combination of spiking energy, supply chain and commodity costs resulting from the Middle East conflict, and the soaring cost of Government policies.
“The best way to keep shop prices down for struggling households in the short, medium and long term is to support retailers’ efforts and to reduce the public policy costs which are pushing up food prices in the first place.
“Mandatory price controls and attempts to compel retailers to sell goods at a loss are not the answer.”
