CATS WHO GOT THE CREAM

» Manifesto propels party closer to landslide » Starmer's pay boost for 40,000 young people

- PAUL HUTCHEON

LABOUR leader Keir Starmer will plough nearly £1.5billion extra into Scotland to make up for years of austerity if he secures the keys to Downing Street.

And up to 40,000 young Scots will receive a huge wage boost if Labour wins the General Election.

Starmer launched the Labour manifesto yesterday amid polls showing his party on course for a landslide against the Tories.

His top priority will be tackling the cost-of-living crisis and growing the economy to raise extra cash for public services.

His funding boost for Scotland has three elements, with the first being a £320million increase for Holyrood's budget.

This comes from cash raised from imposing VAT on private school fees, scrapping non-dom status and closing other tax loopholes.

Another £150million in levelling up money will be handed to a Labour Scottish Secretary. A Labour source said Scotland would likely benefit from around £lbillion of resources from Great British Energy, which will be headquartered in Scotland, the National Wealth Fund, the British Jobs Bonus and the Warm Homes Plan.

Starmer will also implement the biggest upgrade to workers' rights in a generation, including a "genuine" living wage.