Labour split over safe drug rooms in Scotland

LABOUR is embroiled in an embarrassing split over an MSP’s claims the UK leadership will not stand in the way of “safe” drug consumption rooms in Scotland.

Speaking to The Stooshie podcast this week, MSP Paul Sweeney said Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is “content” with an approach of managing addiction as a public health issue north of the border.

Mr Sweeney said he consulted shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper over his Holyrood member’s Bill, which would pave the way for overdose prevention centres in Scotland.

He claimed there was “no opposition to what we’re proposing”.

However, we can reveal party bosses in London have ignored correspondence from their Scottish counterparts for months – and Ms Cooper still refuses to set out her position.

A Scottish Labour source said the shambles is “incredibly frustrating”.

The source suggested leaders avoided choosing a stance because they fear it will be seized on by senior Tories at Westminster as evidence of “weakness” on drugs.

Appearing on DC Thomson’s Scottish politics podcast, Mr Sweeney said: “I’ve consulted the leadership of the UK Labour Party on this, I’ve consulted our shadow home secretary on this, and they’re content with what we’re proposing.”

However, just hours after the Stooshie episode went live – and despite being asked for comment before it did – Ms Cooper’s office insisted Mr Sweeney’s Bill “is not a proposal we have looked at or been involved in”.

Despite being asked repeatedly, Ms Cooper refused to set out her position on overdose prevention centres.

A spokeswoman would only say: “There’s clearly a question about why drug deaths are so much higher in Scotland than the rest of the UK – and it’s clear that the SNP cuts to drug treatment programmes have made this worse.”

Mr Sweeney was approached for comment.