THE Liberal Democrats top manifesto priority is education.

The party suffered heavy losses at Holyrood in 2011 following the UK party going into coalition with the Conservatives and u-turning on its no tuition fees promise.

It went down to five MSPs from 16 five years before as voters deserted the party.

Under Willie Rennie, who succeeded Tavish Scott as leader in 2011, the party hopes to build it support back and become a force at Holyrood again.

Its big headline plan is to increase tax by 1% with the sole intention of investing every penny of the half a billion a year they say it will raise in education.

Launching the manifesto Mr Rennie said it is the “essential investment”.

The theme of the manifesto is ‘Scotland used to be the best at things like education and the NHS but not any more’.

On Education the party says it would expand early years education, introduce a Pupil Premium for schools to target cash at pupils who need most support, £1400 for every pupils form a deprived background, £900 for a secondary pupils. Cash could be used for extra support staff, equipment or homework clubs.

The LibDems would reverse cuts to councils and invest more in colleges.

The SNP plans for expanding childcare get backing but LibDems want to go further and provide for all two year olds and extend free school meals to all pupils.

Mr Rennie said: Our education was amongst the best in the world, now it’s just about average.

“To be the best again we need to end cuts to education, an ambitious nursery education expansion, a Pupil Premium, investment in schools and more college places.

“This investment will give every child the chance to realise its potential and give the economy the skilled workforce it needs.”

On Health the party is putting mental health top of its agenda.

It wants to increase the share of the budget for mental health services and double support services for young people.

It wants every GP surgery to have a qualified mental health professional to provide services and in every A&E department too.

On the wider NHS it wants to train, recruit and retain more GPs and put more money into services in deprived areas.

Mr Rennie, said: “Our NHS used to be world leading now it’s under real pressure. To be the best again we need a step change in mental health services, the recruitment of more GPs and better social care.”

The manifesto calls for more affordable, rented housing and proposes 50,000 new affordable homes over the next five years with 40,000 for rent.

The party said it wants to “re-establish social renting as a long term option for people.”

On Justice is wants early intervention to tackle offending and re-offending.

It states: “Too many people still find themselves in the criminal justice system because of poverty, addiction and mental health issues.”

It will oppose any more courts closing and centralisation and closure of police control rooms.

Mr Rennie said: “Our civil liberties were once celebrated but they have been neglected with the industrial scale use of stop and search, armed police and an intrusive super ID database.”