Scottish Labour MPs will use their position to ‘put pressure on SNP Government’

Scottish Labour MPs have pledged to use their position to put pressure on the SNP Government.

Deputy leader Jackie Baillie said her party’s MPs will stand up for their constituents by “holding the SNP government to account on its failures”.

She also called on the SNP to “take responsibility for fixing the mess it has made” and added that Scotland has “been failed by not one but two bad governments”.

Some of the new Labour MPs have already written to the Scottish Government demanding action in their constituencies.

It comes after Labour’s huge election win last week, in which the party won the majority of seats in Scotland for the first time since 2010.

Baillie told the Record: “For years people across Scotland have been failed by not one but two bad governments.

“Last week Scots voted for change and got rid of the Tories – but this is just the first step in delivering the change Scotland needs.

“Scottish Labour MPs will stand up for their constituents by putting Scotland’s voice at the heart of the Labour government and by holding the SNP government to account on its failures.

“From the crisis in our NHS to the housing emergency to the pressure on our schools, the SNP must take responsibility for fixing the mess it has made.”

Labour has set its sights on a Holyrood victory in 2026 after it had its best general election result in 14 years.

The party returned 37 MPs in Scotland on a night that saw SNP support across the country crumble. The Nationalists won just nine seats.

In the 2019 general election the SNP won 48 seats while Labour only won a single constituency.

But the SNP is by far the biggest party in the Scottish Parliament. It has 63 MSPs, while Labour languishes in third with 22.

New Livingston MP Gregor Poynton has already written to the Scottish Government written to SNP Health Secretary Neil Gray demanding the Scottish Government provides funding for East Calder Health Centre.

NHS Lothian and West Lothian Council have said that the health centre needs a new building but the money has not been made available.

Poynton has asked for Gray to attend a public meeting with him and the local community about how he will resolve the situation.

Poynton said: “The SNP Scottish Government’s ongoing failure to fund a new Health Centre in East Calder is letting the local community down.

“As the new MP for the Livingston constituency, I will work tirelessly to hold the SNP accountable for their neglect. The people of the Livingston constituency deserve better.”

Western Isles MP Torcuil Crichton said he will put pressure on the SNP over the ferries and the NHS.

He said: “Of course I will hold the Scottish Government to account on the priorities of island constituents on everything from ferries to health service provision.

“However, what voters want and expect is the heft of two governments working on solving their problems. Island communities know that it is by working together that we make progress, that’s the best approach to take.

“So, political differences yes, and the SNP are on notice across Scotland after last week’s results, but where we can work together that’s what we will do.”

The SNP has been approached for comment.

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