The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
‘Anywhere, anytime’: FM calls out Tory and Labour leaders over TV debates
Sturgeon challenges Johnson and Corbyn to put money where their mouths are
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she would debate with the Conservative and Labour leaders on television “anywhere, anytime”.
The SNP leader’s challenge came after Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson threatened to sue ITV for excluding her from their debates, with Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn set to square off on the channel ahead of the December 12 vote.
During the third leg of her day on the campaign trail, Ms Sturgeon joined in with Scottish country dancing at Lochside Community Centre in Dumfries with SNP candidate Richard Arkless.
Ms Sturgeon said: “My message to Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson is: ‘What are you scared of?’
“I’ll debate one of them, I’ll debate both of them, anytime, anywhere.
“Bring it on, stop running scared of meaningful debate in this election. The people can see you.
“The population – certainly in Scotland but across the rest of the UK – is moving away from the two-party system.
“You’ve got the broadcasters not only sticking to that but actually going back the way, because in 2010, 2015 and 2017 they had a different approach to that.”
Meanwhile, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will today accuse Boris Johnson of trying to “hijack” Brexit so he can sell out the NHS if he is returned to power in the general election on December 12.
The Labour leader will say the Tories are preparing to unleash “Thatcherism on steroids”, opening up the health service to US pharmaceutical companies and stripping workers of their rights.
Speaking in Harlow, he will again claim Mr Johnson is seeking a postBrexit trade deal with the US that would mean “full market access” to the NHS for US producers, pushing up the cost of medicines.
The Conservatives have consistently denied the NHS would be “on the table” in trade talks with President Donald Trump’s administration.
However, Mr Corbyn will say it is clear Mr Johnson is preparing to betray pledges which he made during the EU referendum campaign in 2016.
Scottish Labour’s Richard Leonard echoed Mr Corbyn’s comments, saying: “My reading of Boris Johnson’s approach is that while he wants to wrench the UK out of Europe, he wants to make us almost the 51st state of the United States of America.
“He sets all his store by trade agreements with Donald Trump.
“Trump’s position is America first and there’s no doubt that any agreement – if ever that was to be reached with the US in a bilateral trade deal – would see the opening up of parts of our public realm in this country to private interests based in America.”
“We stand for the public ownership of the NHS, we created the national health service and we want to see it remaining in public hands, subject to public accountability and control, with proper investment going into it.”
Ms Swinson said: “As Liberal Democrats we will take any action required to make sure that that voice of Remain is represented in those debates.
“We are taking legal advice and we will pursue legal avenues if ITV do not change their format.
“It is so important that millions of Remainers can make sure their voice is represented, that it is a fair debate between the different options on offer, and that for the girls and young women across our country they see that women can be political leaders and prime ministers too.”
A spokeswoman for the Lib Dems said a legal team has been instructed to be prepared to launch legal action if ITV does not change its decision “quickly”.