JACKIE Baillie has been skewered for attempting to claim credit for Government policies despite Scottish Labour’s protests they “don’t care” who gets praised for progressive policies.
Anas Sarwar’s deputy was interviewed on BBC Good Morning Scotland on Wednesday to discuss the Programme for Government unveiled by Nicola Sturgeon yesterday.
The Programme for Government is the administration’s “to-do” list for the next year and included measures such as a temporary reprieve for rail passengers by halting fare increases and a rent freeze until March next year.
Despite both the SNP and Greens arguing against Labour’s proposals for a rent freeze earlier in the year, the measure will now be brought in by emergency legislation, the First Minister announced on Tuesday.
The Scottish Greens have said Labour’s proposals would have resulted in a wave of evictions and that the Government’s proposals have ironed out problems which they said would have resulted from Labour MSP Mercedes Villalba’s plans.
Asked about the policy by presenter Gary Robertson, Baillie said: “We’ve clearly been setting the agenda from opposition as our proposals have been adopted by both Governments…”
This came despite her echoing comments from Sarwar made earlier in the week that Scottish Labour did not “care about who claims credit for any changes that are implemented”.
Robertson interrupted her to say: “Well you just said it doesn’t matter who takes the credit but now you are taking the credit…”
Baillie replied: “Indeed, indeed. Well it’s useful to point out what the factual position is and the context is.”
Keith Brown, SNP Justice Secretary, slammed her response, calling the interview “awful”.
He tweeted: “Awful [Jackie Baillie] interview on [Good Morning Scotland.
“Says not interested in who gets credit for good ideas in Prog for Govt, then repeatedly, absurdly and pointlessly tries to claim credit for many of them.
“Labour need to support calls for vital new funds for Scotland’s public services.”
It comes after Sturgeon wrote to the new Prime Minister on Tuesday to demand extra funding for the Scottish Government or for its borrowing powers to be greatly extended.
She told Truss it was “difficult to overstate the gravity of the situation” facing the country.
The four leaders of the UK should assemble for an emergency meeting, Sturgeon added as she repeated calls for a windfall tax on oil and gas companies which closes the loopholes included in the former chancellor’s plans to place a levy on energy giants profiting from the crisis.
