Change in Scotland a ‘two-stage process’, says Sarwar

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has described change in Scotland as a “two-stage process” as he published his party’s manifesto.

Mr Sarwar took the unusual step of using the launch of his party’s plans ahead of the July 4 General Election to also look to 2026, when Scots will next go to the polls in a Holyrood election.

The 135-page document largely echoes the proposals laid out in the UK-wide Labour manifesto published last week, but in it Mr Sarwar also commits to some measures to be implemented if his party wins the keys to Bute House.

He said at the launch in Edinburgh on Tuesday: “The manifesto we have published today of course reflects much of what the UK Labour manifesto outlined last week, demonstrating what a UK Labour government will deliver in office.

“But we know change for Scotland is a two-stage process, it begins in just 17 days when we can finally get rid of this lying, corrupt, incompetent Tory Government – but that is just the start.

“In 2026, we need a change of direction at Holyrood as much as we need one at Westminster today.

“The SNP has failed the people of Scotland – breaking our NHS, ruining our once world-leading education system, and tarnishing our politics by wasting and misusing your money.”

Scottish Labour, he said, will improve policing, reform the planning system, ban second jobs for MSPs and bring in a recall mechanism at Holyrood, and reduce the poverty-related attainment gap in education, if it forms the government in 2026.

He also vowed to ensure the NHS is secure for “generations to come”.

Mr Sarwar said: “This election is a key moment in our nation’s history – the choice is more of the same or change with Labour.

“I know that Scotland has extraordinary potential just waiting to be unlocked – Labour will unlock that true potential.

“We have worked tirelessly so that our party is ready to serve you again.

“With Keir Starmer in Number 10, we will have a government on the side of the people of Scotland, because Labour is the only party trying to pull our country together.”

A Labour government will “turn the page on the chaos of the past few years”, the Glasgow MSP added.

Addressing activists and journalists at the launch, he added: “People are fed up with politicians who focus only on their own priorities and put their party before country.

“Our country is crying out for change.

“So we need to change our politics, and turn the page on the chaos of the past few years.”

Following his speech, Mr Sarwar was repeatedly questioned about the two-child benefit cap – which limits the number of children families can claim benefits for.

Labour has said it will not be able to scrap the measure due to a lack of funding, but it has come under pressure from opposition parties and campaigners.

Asked by a journalist if he is against the cap, Mr Sarwar said: “The short answer is yes.

“We were right to oppose the two-child limit, we were right to vote against the two-child limit.”

But he added: “The honest reality is after 14 years of Tory economic carnage, we will not be able to do everything we want to do as fast as we want to do.”