Nearing the halfway point of the Scottish parliamentary election campaign, Anas Sarwar introduced Scottish Labour’s manifesto at a campaign event in Edinburgh today, urging voters to give him “just five years” to fix the mess caused by the Scottish National Party and accusing the ruling party of doing too little with nearly two decades.
During yesterday's first televised leadership debate, Mr Sarwar, the Bute House contender, promised a fully costed and robust manifesto that outlines Labour’s priorities north of the Border.
In a room filled with journalists, party faithful and candidates, Mr Sarwar unveiled his 94-page plan to reshape Scotland’s political landscape if he is successful on May 7.
Despite previously calling Sir Keir Starmer's leadership untenable, Mr Sarwar now suggests efforts are being made to repair the relationship between himself and Downing Street, dismissing the idea his relationship with the Prime Minister is broken.
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He stood by Sir Keir's intentions to “do what’s best by our country” and is confident “a UK Labour government would, of course, work with the Scottish Government to deliver for Scotland".
Predictably, Mr Sarwar has prioritised the NHS on Scottish Labour's agenda, leveraging his experience as an NHS dentist to emphasise his party's objectives. This is not surprising, considering the NHS has been his most effective weapon against John Swinney during First Minister's Questions, amidst high waiting lists.
“As someone that has worked in our NHS,” he began, “the NHS is personal to me and that’s why fixing the NHS, making sure it’s fit for the future and cutting waiting lists, is so important.
“Are there other priorities too? Yes. But if you’re asking me specifically the one I’m most passionate about, it has to be the NHS, because that’s in my DNA.”
The Bute House contender promised a fully costed and robust manifesto that outlines Labour’s priorities north of the Border
|GETTY
After weeks of campaign stops, Mr Sarwar’s final plea to voters is already coming into focus: "If you agree that after one party being in charge for 20 years, it’s time for change, then vote for it.”
In a series of statements reminiscent of the iconic opening of Irvine Welsh’s Transporting, Mr Sarwar uttered the word “change” repeatedly.
“Change… to save our NHS; change to make life more affordable; change that will allow all our young people to succeed; change to make our streets safer and our communities stronger; change for our towns, cities, islands and villages.”
Taking questions from reporters after delivering his speech, Mr Sarwar was quizzed more than once on the risk of standing on a Labour platform promising “Change” in big bold letters.
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The NHS has been his most effective tool at striking blows to First Minister John Swinney during First Minister’s Questions
| PALabour stood on the single-word slogan of “Change” in the 2024 general election, but within 12 months public mood has turned sour and many have wondered what changes there have been.
A slightly different challenge to Scottish Labour’s promise of change was the litany of policies one reporter summed up as copied homework ripped from the SNP playbook, suggesting Mr Sarwar thinks “Scotland needs new management rather than new bold ideas”.
The Scottish Conservatives have accused the party of “following the same failed blueprint of Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves” and suggested a full costing of the proposals would continue to hit Scots in the pocket.
Seputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: “Scottish Labour's manifesto is not worth the paper it was written on.
“It is not a serious or credible plan to deliver the change Scotland needs after two decades of failure from the SNP.
“Anas Sarwar is following the failed blueprint of Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves with his uncosted manifesto.”
Ms Hamilton went on to accuse Mr Sarwar of being “dangerously complacent” about Mr Swinney’s independence referendum guarantee, which is fast becoming a focal point of unionist and pro-independence parties alike.
On independence, Mr Sarwar has resolutely stated “I do not support independence” throughout his campaign, most recently on Monday at the manifesto launch.
Despite the confidence and energy displayed at a well-rehearsed manifesto launch, Scottish Labour continues to lag behind the SNP in the polls and remains locked in a battle for second place with Reform UK.
All the while, Mr Swinney’s nationalists muster support and continue to pick up the occasional result, predicting an electoral majority and meeting a 2011-inspired threshold for a mandate to demand a second independence referendum.
If polling trends carry through to the ballot box, the unionist vote will be split like never before, introducing a new dynamic of one of the smallest opposition parties in the Scottish parliament’s 27-year history.
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