by Bill Heaney
As the final week before polling begins, Anas Sarwar pledged to change Scotland when he said only Scottish Labour can beat the SNP in constituencies across Scotland.
Mr Sarwar will say that Scotland needs change after 20 years of SNP government, and that a Scottish Labour government would fix the mess, get the basics right, and build a better future for Scotland.
Scottish Labour said voters have seen the mess the SNP have made over two decades, with soaring NHS waiting lists, the struggle to get a GP appointment, rising pressure on family budgets, young people being denied opportunity, and too many communities feeling left behind.
The party said only Scottish Labour can win in constituencies across Scotland and that a vote for Labour is the route to rejecting Reform, beating the SNP and changing Scotland.
Scottish Labour’s plan for government would:
- Cut NHS waiting times, end the 8 am rush for a GP and bring back the family doctor
- make life more affordable by cutting childcare costs, helping with bills and ending government waste
- create jobs and opportunities with 9,000 new apprenticeships and backing Scottish industry
- build 125,000 new homes and support first-time buyers
- Put community police back into neighbourhoods and fix the roads with a £350 million potholes fund
- Cut a third of quangos and respect taxpayers’ money with no income tax rises for five years
Anas Sarwar said: “We have all seen the mess John Swinney and the SNP have made over those 20 years.
“Our NHS is struggling, family budgets are under pressure, and too many people feel they are paying more and getting less.
“The SNP has had 20 years, and Scotland has paid the price.
“I’m asking people to give me five years to fix the mess, get the basics right and build a better future for Scotland.
“This election is a straight choice – only Scottish Labour can win in constituencies across Scotland, beat the SNP and deliver the change Scotland needs.
“On Thursday, Scots can come together – reject Reform, beat the SNP and vote to deliver the change Scotland needs.
“Vote Scottish Labour.”
Top of page: Jackie Baillie, the Labour candidate in Dumbarton Constituency, canvassing with colleagues.
Readership figures from Microsoft for The Dumbarton Democrat on Sunday, May 4, 2026, at 5 pm are 16.4K (views) and 13.9K (visitors to the website).

