The SNP has been mired in scandal for decades and needs to be kicked out of power for the good of the country, Scottish Labour has said.
Cover-up and secrecy have become the hallmarks of the ‘Sleazy National Party’, it claimed.
A Scottish Labour list of ‘lowlights of the atrocious, scandal-hit SNP government’ since the last Holyrood election in 2021 included:
■ The long-running police probe into SNP finances which led to ex-chief executive Peter Murrell being charged with embezzlement;
■ Former health secretary Michael Matheson quitting after trying to bill taxpayers £11,000 for iPad roaming charges while on holiday;
■ Ex-North Lanarkshire Council boss Jordan Linden convicted of 10 charges against boys and young men, including sexual assault, stalking and sexual communication;
■ The deaths of two children at the botched Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow linked to an infected water system;
■ Health Secretary Neil Gray taking official limos to Aberdeen matches.
Dame Jackie Baillie attacked the SNP for the number of scandals they had presided over
Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: ‘The SNP has been mired in sleaze and scandal for decades.
‘In the last five years alone, we had seen them cover up for sex pests, lie to the families of those who died at the QEUH, and recklessly waste taxpayers’ money on limos and iPad roaming charges.
‘This is not just a one-off. It is a pattern of lies, deceit, and cover-up which has become the hallmark of the SNP in power.
‘The only thing John Swinney and the SNP care about is staying in power. The truth is that they are not fit for office and they do not deserve another five years in government.’
An SNP spokesman said: ‘Labour defended [former MSP] Pam Duncan-Glancy’s friendship with a paedophile for weeks before acting, saw no issue with Anas Sarwar boasting about his ‘old friend’ Peter Mandelson, despite his links to the world’s most infamous paedophile, and saw one of their MSPs Colin Smyth arrested on suspicion of heinous crimes.’