2 weeks Ago
The First Minister called out the Scottish Labour leader at FMQs for his repeated pledges during the election of "no austerity under Labour" as he questioned the SNP on working hours lost to NHS absence. Sarwar appeared to sarcastically utter "always someone else's fault" under his breath while tilting his head from side to side as Swinney urged him to "ask his UK masters" to end austerity. READ MORE: Scottish Labour support plummets in major new poll In defending his Government's record on the NHS, Swinney said: "The problem here is the perpetuation of austerity.
"Mr Sarwar told me during the election campaign there would be no austerity under Labour. Now Mr Sarwar can make all the gesticulation he wants at me, those were his words. No austerity under Labour and we’re getting austerity under the Labour Party as we speak.
"So my message to Mr Sarwar is if he wants to help the situation, he should say to his UK masters to end the austerity because as he well knows, all roads lead back to Westminster on NHS funding." Swinney appeared to reference an interview with Health Secretary Wes Streeting prior to the General Election where he said "all roads lead back to Westminster" when talking about the NHS in Scotland. A clip of Sarwar pledging "no austerity under Labour" re-emerged at the end of July as Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepared to announce a £20 billion black hole in the public finances.
During the election campaign, the SNP repeatedly warned of £18 billion of cuts to public services or tax rises – pointing to analysis from the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Sarwar said during a leaders' debate: ""And let me say unequivocally. There will be no austerity under a Labour government.
” During FMQs, Sarwar claimed the NHS "is not safe with the SNP" as he detailed how 15.3 million working hours had been lost to staff absence. Swinney said the Government had expanded staff resources within the NHS over a number of years, citing examples in nursing and midwifery and medical and dental care.
He said one of the key interventions of the Scottish Government had been ensuring the maximisation of the number of staff available, despite challenges presented in part as a result of the pandemic. He added recent figures had shown an increase in inpatient and day-care activity, outpatient activity and an increase in surgery capacity. “We’re treating more patients with cancer on time within the 62 day standard, 3% more than the same quarter a year ago, and 12.
8% compared to ten years ago," Swinney said..
