Alex Salmond promises better childcare after independence

Scottish parents could benefit from a European-style system of childcare subsidies if Scotland gets independence, the First Minister, Alex Salmond, said yesterday.

He claimed the "transformational" measure was one of the reasons to vote to leave the UK in next year's referendum, describing it as "part of 'why' of independence". He made the policy commitment at the Scottish National Party's conference in Inverness. The SNP leader said only a limited amount could be achieved under devolution. "So let us consider what more we could achieve in an independent Scotland."