First Minister John Swinney, Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie, and Bob Doris MSP for Maryhill.
by Bill Heaney
First Minister John Swinney has been told he must urgently condemn the “disgraceful” remarks of an SNP branch which claimed the QEUH scandal is a “BBC witch hunt”.
The comments were posted on X on Wednesday morning by the SNP Maryhill and Springburn branch, in which the newly-elected MSP is Bob Doris, who was brought up in Vale of Leven and educated locally.
They wrote: “Glasgow’s ‘super-hospital’ is safer than the average in Scotland, much safer than many in England and has been so for many years – this is a BBC ‘Witch hunt'”.
The post linked to a blog which criticised BBC journalists, and which sought to downplay the link between infections and deaths at the QEUH campus.
Scottish Labour has consistently called for Milly’s Law to be introduced at Holyrood.
The legislation, named after 10-year-old Milly Main, who died at the hospital in 2017, would bring about the establishment of an independent public advocate with the authority to investigate incidents and the truth.
Dumbarton MSP and Scottish Labour health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: “These appalling remarks should be condemned by John Swinney, as well as the constituency SNP MSPs who represent the branch.
“Patients died at the QEUH. Their families deserve the truth, not further gaslighting and cover-up.
“The suggestion that this has all been part of some kind of ‘BBC witch hunt’ is the sort of line peddled by online cranks and conspiracy theorists.
“Journalists have worked diligently to cover this story in detail, giving a voice to families who have lost loved ones and to the brave whistleblowers who have sounded the alarm about safety concerns at the QEUH.
“It is completely wrong to try to make out that journalists are somehow at fault for doing their jobs and holding those in positions of power to account.
“John Swinney must make clear that he rejects this dangerous and irresponsible rhetoric, and that he will be a First Minister committed to the truth, rather than pandering to the cranks in his SNP ranks.”
ENDS