Anas Sarwar: Politicians must end ‘tinkering’ to tackle challenges

The Scottish Government must stop “tinkering around the edges” if it is to rise to the challenges facing the country, Anas Sarwar has said.

The Scottish Labour leader is delivering a speech at the IPPR Scotland think tank on Wednesday, where he will pledge to deliver “transformative change” if his party can form a government next year.

Sarwar will commit a Scottish Labour government to reforming the NHS, bringing down violence in schools and creating a new skills strategy to meet the needs of the changing economy.

And he will also say that “SNP tinkering and failure” will not meet the needs of the people of Scotland.

The Scottish Parliament election takes place next May. The SNP is on track to remain the largest party, according to the polls, with Labour a distance behind.

Some polls also suggest the party may even remain in third place, with Reform leapfrogging it and the Conservatives to become the second largest party.

But Labour strategists believe that once the official election campaign begins, the numbers will turn in the party’s favour.

With just over six months to go, in a wide-ranging speech Sarwar will say: “The age of tinkering around the edges has to end if we are to meet the challenges before us. Scotland cannot afford a third decade of tired, SNP tinkering and failure.

“That's why I am leading Scottish Labour into the Scottish Parliament elections with bold policies to deliver the transformative change that Scotland needs.

“The choice next is simple – more of the same with John Swinney and the SNP or transformative change with Scottish Labour.”

Other policies to be included in the party’s election offering include the declaring of an NHS waiting times emergency, giving the green light to nuclear energy developments, and reforming business rates.