Row over Labour manifesto launch
ANAS Sarwar said Scottish Labour’s manifesto launch has been delayed to Thursday due to an “unscheduled” coronavirus announcement from the Scottish Government set for tomorrow.
Sarwar said the launch date had been pushed back for a second time – following the delay to the original launch due to the suspension of campaigning after the Duke of Edinburgh’s death.
However, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Twitter that the announcement is not unscheduled and she previously indicated she would be likely to speak this Tuesday.
The Scottish Labour leader said despite the delays he had nevertheless been setting out his policies on job creation and economic recovery.
Sarwar said the original launch had been planned for today but was cancelled due to a halt in campaigning, while other parties had been doing their own launches later in the week.
He said they had planned to move to tomorrow but there was “an unscheduled Scottish Government statement now on Covid, despite us seeking clarification from the government on that”.
Sarwar added: “We’ve been told to expect a statement from the Scottish Government that was unscheduled.
“So we’re having to manifesto date again.”
He said this was “frustrating” but that the party had not been waiting for its manifesto launch move our to set out its policies on economic stimulus and tackling child poverty.
The next easing of coronavirus restrictions is due to take place on April 26, when indoor opening of hospitality will be permitted.
Sarwar also attacked Sturgeon’s record in government, saying NHS treatment times had grown poorer.
He said: “She’s taken her eye off the ball on drugs deaths, she’s taken her eye off the ball on the NHS, she’s taken her eye off the ball in terms of her suicide rates across the country, she’s taken her eye off the ball on education.
“We need an effective Labour opposition in the next parliament to make sure she keeps her eye on the ball for the recovery and not focussed by her own priorities.”