Anas Sarwar said John Swinney has gone from “arrogant to desperate” as Scottish Labour ruled out a deal with Reform UK.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar rejected the prospect of any “grubby coalitions” with Reform UK after it was reported in The Scotsman newspaper that a senior Scottish Labour source was briefing the potential for a deal with the party.
Speaking to the Press Association on Tuesday, Mr Sarwar said: “What it demonstrates, and it shows that people are waking up to this reality, is that this election is not a done deal, it is a choice.
“John Swinney or I will be first minister after this election and that’s what the focus is, to change the government after 20 years of SNP failure to make sure we have a new government that’s fixing the SNP’s mess, getting the basics right and building a better future.
“But let me make one thing absolutely clear: no pacts, no deals, no grubby coalitions – we are going flat out to win this election.”
Speaking at an SNP event at the Citizen’s Theatre in Glasgow, last week, First Minister John Swinney said there was potential for a “grubby backroom” deal between Labour and Reform.
He said: “Be in no doubt. Depending on how the numbers stack up after the election, without an SNP majority, there is always a potential for a grubby backroom deal between Labour and Reform.”
Mr Sarwar said: “Let me also say to John Swinney, after one week of this election campaign, he’s gone from the arrogant to the desperate. He started the week of the campaign saying that the SNP is guaranteed to win, and now he’s talking up a fake, grubby deal with Reform.
“It shows they’re desperate, it shows their campaign’s already crashing, and only one party is positive and hopeful for the future, and only one person can beat the SNP, and that’s me (and) Scottish Labour.”
Mr Sarwar spoke to media at a parent and toddler group in South Lanarkshire as he announced a Scottish Labour government would provide two free weeks of holiday clubs for children during the summer holidays.
The policy is aimed at easing the pressure on working families and ensuring parents are still able to work during the summer and would cover all primary school age children.
At his party’s campaign conference earlier this month, SNP leader John Swinney promised tapered support for childcare which would see the poorest parents pay nothing, 52 weeks a year and up to the age of 12.
The £500 million project will require expansions to the existing system, while Scottish Labour has said its plans would merely require an increase in funding for councils already delivering the clubs.
Mr Sarwar said: “We are announcing our plans today for how we give more family support in the cost-of-living crisis, particularly with childcare costs.
“So, we will maintain the 1,140 free childcare awards. We’ll add to that with a two-week, holiday programme which will be free so people can access that extra support over the summer holiday period.
“But we also want to go further, and that means for any child aged up to 12 you can claim back your childcare costs for up to £3,000 per child, helping to drive forward access to employment, better access to childcare, but also addressing the cost-of-living crisis.”
SNP MSP Angus Robertson said: “Anas Sarwar has just made an astonishing gaffe and confirmed his grubby deal with Reform is lying in wait – just what price would (Nigel) Farage extract to put Sarwar in office?
“On the day a poll finds his Labour Party trailing in third on just 18 seats, Anas Sarwar’s only option is to do a deal with Farage – Labour voters will be absolutely sickened by that disturbing prospect.
“Anas Sarwar is a desperate man, but he should make clear now that he would not count any votes from either Tory MSPs or Nigel Farage’s Reform MSPs as a mandate to enter Bute House.
“Not only does an SNP majority unlock independence, it locks Nigel Farage out of power – be in no doubt, without an SNP majority there is always the potential for a grubby, backroom deal between the Labour Party and Reform.”
