by Bill Heaney
The SNP has today been accused of engaging in a Scottish Parliament election “propaganda campaign” that would “make Pravda blush”.
It’s a subject that should make all the political parties blush, but Scottish Labour has decided to get its retaliation in first.
In the midst of a disastrous election campaign that has seen the SNP mired in scandal and sleaze – including the cover-up for sex pest Jordan Linden – the party has resorted to increasingly desperate tactics.
It includes making bogus claims on energy, talking up yet another independence referendum, and making baseless smears against political opponents.
According to Labour, the SNP has been desperate to distract from the discussion about their “utterly woeful record in government,” which has seen public services run down, the health service neglected, and public money wasted on an unprecedented scale.
Their campaign is led by a tired and irritable John Swinney, who has not had the energy to campaign on a daily basis, instead instructing colleagues, including Stephen Flynn and Jenny Gilruth, to hit the campaign trail in his place.
SNP’s Jenny Gilruth, John Swinney and Stephen Flynn are all under attack from Jackie Baillie.
As part of pitiful attempts to avoid difficult questions, SNP HQ and Swinney have also decided to prevent print journalists from attending media events, such as one at Whitelee Windfarm.
But that’s happening in Dumbarton, where West Dunbartonshire’s Chief Press Officer, Amanda Graham, has banned her comms team from even speaking to The Dumbarton Democrat without official approval from Scottish Labour and the SNP, who are currently playing pass the parcel with the administration.
At the SNP event on Monday, Swinney stood next to Kirsten Oswald, who played a key role in covering up for sex pest Patrick Grady and shutting down a complainant in the case.
Scottish Labour’s candidate in Dumbarton constituency, Jackie Baillie, who, in fairness, did put in a word for The Democrat to be reinstated, said: “The SNP know their record in government is atrocious – that is why they want to distract the public from talking about it.”
Scottish Labour’s Westminster MP Douglas McAllister was asked too, but he declined to reinstate democracy, of which, we take it, he is not a fan.
Of the SNP, Jackie Baillie said today: “After 20 years in power, they are a busted flush, with a low-energy leader in John Swinney who has nothing to offer the people of Scotland.
“In a stark acceptance of that reality, they have turned towards making ludicrous, unfunded election promises and reheating old manifesto pledges, while attempting to smear political rivals with baseless accusations.
“This just demonstrates how shallow and unambitious the SNP’s election campaign is. The truth is, it is nothing more than a propaganda campaign that would make Pravda blush.
“In contrast, Scottish Labour is making a positive, ambitious case to the people of Scotland, offering new thinking and fresh energy.
“After almost two decades of the SNP, Scotland needs change. Scottish Labour is the only party that is capable of kicking out this rotten SNP government.”