Reader TTS

JACKIE BAILLIE CLAIMED JOHN SWINNEY'S PARTY WAS TRYING TO HIDE FROM HIS LONG RECORD IN GOVERNMENT. 04:29, 02 Jun 2025 Voters in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse will have the chance to

put the SNP Government "on notice" this week, Labour has said. Jackie Baillie, the party's deputy leader, said today Scotland had suffered as a result of almost two decades

of Nationalist control at Holyrood. She claimed John Swinney was attempting to hide from his record in Government which has seen a widespread decline in public services Baillie said NHS

waiting times were now beginning to fall in England while they continue to flatline north of the Border. And she warned economic growth in Scotland was now lagging behind the UK average as

GDP in Scotland grew by just 0.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, compared to 0.7 per cent across the UK. Pay is rising more slowly for Scots workers than the UK as a whole, as recent

earnings data shows that over the last year pay rose by 5.8 per cent in Scotland and 6.4 per cent across the UK. Article continues belowREAD MORE: SNP accused of 'student union

politics' after refusing to fund Scottish shipbuilding training centreREAD MORE: Scottish independence support surges over fears Nigel Farage could be next Prime Minister Baillie said:

"From our overstretched NHS to our declining education system to our crisis-hit housing system, almost all of what is broken in Scotland is run by the SNP. "Labour is working to

clean up the mess left behind by 14 years of Tory chaos – ending austerity, cutting NHS waiting lists, growing our economy and taking action to boost housebuilding. "But the sad truth

is SNP incompetence means many Scots are still not feeling the benefit of these changes. "SNP inaction means we still have sky high NHS waiting lists, a low pay, low growth economy, and

a devastating housing emergency. "It’s time for John Swinney and the SNP to take responsibility for their failures and admit that the blame for Scotland’s biggest challenges lies

squarely at the door of Bute House. "The SNP has been in charge for almost two decades – it’s clear they don’t have any answers. "The Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election

is a chance for Scots to call time on SNP failure and vote for a new direction with Scottish Labour." Anas Sarwar will today unveil a new campaign ad van in the constituency as the

party continues its push for votes in South Lanarkshire. SNP depute leader Keith Brown said: "In government, Labour has taken away the winter fuel payment, cut £5 billion of support for

disabled people and watched on as energy bills rose by £150,” he said. "With an SNP Government, the people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse are getting action on what matters to

them: bringing back the universal winter fuel payment, record funding for our NHS and key costs lower, with peak rail fares scrapped and lower income tax for the majority of taxpayers. “The

Labour Party has let you down and Farage is trying to stoke division, but the SNP is always on your side.” Article continues below TO SIGN UP TO THE DAILY RECORD POLITICS NEWSLETTER, CLICK

HERE