Anas Sarwar has pleaded with voters to give him “five years” as first minister to fix the country as he launched Scottish Labour’s manifesto.
The Scottish Labour leader said the SNP had been given 20 years in government but had left the country worse off.
Much of the policies announced in the party’s manifesto had already been announced, while there were some pledges that were existing Scottish Government commitments.
Commitments included cutting waiting times in the NHS and ending the 8am rush for a GP appointment by renegotiating the doctor contract.
There was also a £5.2 billion commitment to build 52,300 new homes and £350 million fixing roads and potholes.
Mr Sarwar rejected claims his manifesto was not fully costed, adding the numbers “absolutely add up” when pressed by journalists.
During his speech in Edinburgh, Mr Sarwar said: “Scotland needs change after 20 years of SNP government.
“We have all seen the mess John Swinney and the SNP have made over those 20 years: waiting lists have soared, patients are being left in pain, families are paying more and getting less, and too many people feel our country is stuck.
“You’ve given the SNP 20 years and Scotland has paid the price.
“Give me five years to fix the mess, save our NHS and deliver the change Scotland needs.
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“I’m standing to get the basics right and build a better future for Scotland.
“My first priority as First Minister will be to put our NHS first by cutting waiting times, ending the 8am rush for a GP and bringing back the family doctor.
“But this manifesto is about more than that, it is about transforming Scotland, making life more affordable, creating jobs and opportunity, building more homes, backing our schools, fixing our roads and ending government waste.
“This election is a straight choice between more of the same with the SNP or change with Scottish Labour.”
Mr Sarwar was also reluctant to be drawn into conversation about his relationship with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, after calling for him to resign earlier this year.
The Prime Minister joined his former deputy Angela Rayner and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham despite previous rumours both would challenge for Labour leadership.
Sir Keir signalled that he would not step down regardless of the outcomes in Holyrood, the Senedd and local elections in England.
Polling has consistently suggested Labour in Scotland will be third place to Reform UK.
The Prime Minister said: “I was elected in July of 2024 with a five year mandate to change this country and I intend to carry through that mandate.
“I will be judged at the next election on whether I’ve delivered.”
The Herald asked whether Mr Sarwar was happy with the Prime Minister’s remarks.
He said this was not an election about the Prime Minister.
But SNP depute leader Keith Brown pointed to the unpopularity of the Labour-led UK Government, saying: “People in Scotland will be thinking ‘we’ve heard this all before’.
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“Anas Sarwar stood with Keir Starmer and promised voters ‘change’ two years ago but Brexit Britain is more broken than ever.
“Anas Sarwar told Scotland to trust Keir Starmer, he told us the Labour Party would bring energy bills down and he told us they would save Grangemouth.
“Well, Starmer has been a disaster, energy bills are up and Grangemouth has closed. No one will believe a word Sarwar says now.
“We know what we get with the Labour Party – we already have one disastrous Labour government, we don’t need another one.”
Scottish Tory deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said Scottish voters “know they can’t trust Labour”.
“Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour campaigned tirelessly to install this dud Prime Minister in Downing Street, and they need to own the consequences of his disastrous government,” she said.
“The country is paying a heavy price for taking a punt on Starmer, and Anas Sarwar’s belated, self-serving attempt to disown him won’t wash.
“Scotland desperately needs change after 19 years of decline under the SNP – but Labour can’t offer that change because they’re part of the same failed, left-wing Holyrood consensus.”
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