Sturgeon’s relaunch criticised by rivals

Nicola Sturgeon’s opponents yesterday poured scorn on reports that the First Minister is to relaunch her government in the autumn in an attempt to breathe fresh life into her administration.

The First Minister and her advisers are working on a series of initiatives in the hope of answering critics, who claims the government is too focussed on the constitution.

Among her plans are a proposal to bypass local authorities by passing cash to community councils, cutting carbon emissions and a new approach to welfare.

Tory economy spokesman Dean Lockhart said: “These are ideas we’ve heard before from the SNP – there literally isn’t a new proposal in there. That’s not the radical relaunch bragged about by SNP insiders. It’s indicative of a tired government which has run out of inspiration and ideas.”

Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said: “There is nothing ‘radical’ about Nicola Sturgeon’s government.

“Over the SNP’S decade of division, Scots have seen no innovative thinking – just increased waiting times in our hospitals, a decline in education standards, and sweeping cuts to local services.”