HUMZA Yousaf’s ‘’think twice’’ comment was ill-judged when he said it over a week ago.
But I’m not sure that opposition party leaders repeating it every time they’re in front of a microphone is the best idea.
If your point – and it is a valid one – is that it is irresponsible for a politician to say something that might dissuade people from getting the medical assistance they need, then surely it is also irresponsible to parrot it again and again.
That was Anas Sarwar’s opening line at FMQs.
“Last week the Health Secretary told the public to ‘think twice’ about calling an ambulance. This week, islanders … were told to only travel on Scotland’s ferries if it was necessary.”
He went on to ask about the “ancient” CalMac fleet and asked why Ferguson’s, a “Scottish yard, supporting Scottish jobs and owned by the Scottish Government”, failed to make the shortlist to build Scottish ferries.
But not before he fluffed his pre-written zinger: “I applaud the Scottish Government for protecting Scottish jobs but it’s just a pity – sorry – for protecting SHIPBUILDING jobs, but’s it’s just a pity that none of those jobs are in Scotland.”
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Nailed it, mate. Before answering, the First Minister took issue with Sarwar’s repetition of the “think twice” line.
“Anybody in this country who needs an ambulance should phone an ambulance. It is not helpful to misrepresent the position when people’s lives are at risk.”
I now realise that I’m also repeating the line. Polly parrot reporting for duty. So to avoid any claims of hypocrisy I would like to urge anybody who needs an ambulance to call one. And I’d like to urge the Scottish Government to make sure that the service has the resources it needs to function properly.
And since I’m on a roll here, I’d also like to urge somebody to bring me a sandwich because the politicians are still talking and it’s well past lunchtime.
Nicola Sturgeon went on: “This government has PROTECTED shipbuilding jobs here in Scotland. Without the intervention of this government, Ferguson’s would not still be open, it would not still be operational.”
She said that Anas Sarwar knows fine well the rules around procurement. He might not though. She should tell him and then he should tell the Tory MSPs and then the Tory MSPs should tell their colleagues in the UK Government. Maybe then we wouldn’t see quite so many PPE contracts going to their mates and donors.
Sarwar described the shipbuilding stooshie as “a national scandal and an international humiliation”.
There will be a prize for anybody who can correctly guess which MSP also has that in their Tinder bio.
“Maybe Anas Sarwar should raise his game and find one iota of consistency” replied the First Minister.
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She then read out a 2018 quote from Anas Sarwar which she said showed that he would not have saved Ferguson’s from closure.
He then read out a 2005 quote from her which he said showed that in opposition, she urged the Labour First Minister to act in the “national interest” but “in government, she puts Scottish jobs at risk”.
The battle of the quotes was nearing it’s conclusion and Nicola Sturgeon had the final word.
“If he had gone on to quote Jack McConnell’s answer, he’d have found that Jack McConnell told ME that what Anas Sarwar is now asking for would have BROKEN THE LAW!”
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