Scotland’s governing SNP has unveiled a headline-grabbing pledge to cap the price of essential supermarket goods if it wins re-election, putting the cost of living back at the centre of the Holyrood campaign. Current reporting says the proposal would apply to 20 to 50 staple items sold by large supermarkets, with products such as bread, milk, cheese, eggs, rice and chicken all mentioned as likely examples. 

First Minister John Swinney says the measure is designed to ease pressure on households and protect access to basic nutrition at a time when many families still feel squeezed by food inflation. The plan is also being presented alongside other affordability promises in the SNP manifesto, including a £2 cap on bus fares.   

But the proposal has already triggered a fierce backlash. Retail groups have criticised the idea as unrealistic, while the Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned that the policy could prove risky depending on how it is implemented. The IFS also noted that the UK government could decide the measure conflicts with the Internal Market Act, which would open up a wider legal and constitutional row. 

That means the story is no longer just about supermarket prices. It is also becoming a test of how far devolved powers in Scotland can be pushed on economic policy, and whether bold interventionist pledges can win over voters ahead of polling day. With living costs still a major concern, the debate around the SNP’s price-cap promise is likely to stay near the top of the UK political agenda.