First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will today set out that SNP MPs will push the UK Government to fund 100,000 affordable homes across the UK per year as part of the party’s opposition to austerity.

Stopping further cuts and increasing investment in housing will not only provide more affordable homes for those who need them – it will also support at least 6,500 jobs in the Scottish construction sector.

In government in Scotland, the SNP is on track to deliver our target of 30,000 affordable homes by the end of the next Parliament. More capital investment from the UK Government will not only help build more homes in Scotland – it will also boost funding across the UK.

SNP MPs at Westminster will also seek investment in transport infrastructure – calling for Scotland to be connected to HS2 as a priority – and more rapid roll out of superfast broadband and 4G across Scotland to enable wider and more affordable internet access across the country.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:

“Making sure more people have the opportunity to live in high quality, affordable housing is such an important part of making life better for many across Scotland.

“Continued austerity from Labour or the Tories will continue to harm the economy and prevent the investment in housing that the whole of the UK requires.

“In Scotland we have shown that investment in affordable housing can keep costs down, create jobs and importantly help people to live better lives.

“With 24,000 affordable homes built by this SNP government so far, we are on track to meet our target to build 30,000 by the end of this Scottish Parliament.

“SNP MPs at Westminster will push for a funding boost for affordable housing from the UK Government to help build more homes – in Scotland and across the UK.

“Specifically, we will call for the UK Government to put in place a new target to build 100,000 affordable homes each and every year.

"This will help grow the Scottish house building industry supporting around 6,500 jobs, economic growth and much needed quality housing across the country - and will go help undo at least some of the damage of Westminster cuts to Scotland's capital budget. 

“SNP MPs at Westminster will also seek investment in transport infrastructure, calling for Scotland to be connected to HS2 as a priority – and more rapid roll out of superfast broadband and 4G across Scotland to enable wider and more affordable internet access across the country.

“For as long as Scotland is part of the Westminster system, we have a shared interest in making it work for the better – for the many rather than the few. Securing further investment in and a target for affordable housing across the UK is another example of how we can bring about the change we seek.”

Commenting on the launch of Labour's UK manifesto today, Scottish National Party leader and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon seized upon the Westminster Labour leadership correcting Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy's bogus claims that there would not be cuts in Scotland under Labour.

Both party leader Ed Miliband and shadow chancellor Ed Balls have said their would be cuts when Mr Murphy's claims were put to them, and shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said on the BBC Daily Politics: "The leader of the Scottish Labour Party will not be in charge of the UK budget."

Ms Sturgeon said:

"The truth is out about Labour spending cuts. Jim Murphy's false claims in the TV debates have been rubbished by his own party bosses at Westminster, who have hung him out to dry.

"Labour would impose swingeing spending cuts on Scotland and the rest of the UK, carrying on with austerity where the Tories left off - that is the core aspect of the manifesto they have published. It sweeps away Jim Murphy's pretence, and leaves him devoid of any credibility in this campaign.

"Ed Miliband, Ed Balls and Chuka Umunna have just confirmed that Labour in Scotland continue to be no more than a branch office of Westminster Labour. That is why so many voters in Scotland are moving away from Labour and choosing the SNP, and we will continue to work hard to earn people's trust.

"The cuts being proposed by Labour, the Tories and Lib Dems are a huge threat to the public services we all hold dear. That is exactly why we need a big group of SNP MPs in the next House of Commons to achieve real change and an end to austerity - our pledge is to be a strong voice for Scotland, and use our clout to help deliver progressive politics across the UK."

Ms Sturgeon further commented on the two brief paragraphs in the Labour manifesto dealing with additional powers for Scotland:

"New powers for Scotland rated just two brief paragraphs in Labour's manifesto, and six words by Ed Miliband at the launch - which confirms how low down Scotland is in the priorities of all the Westminster parties. Scotland needs the extensive new powers we were promised during the referendum in the Vow - financial powers to grow our economy, and welfare powers to build a fairer society. And it is abundantly clear that the only way this will happen is if Scotland elects a big team of SNP MPs on 7 May."