NICOLA Sturgeon has responded to Keir Starmer's criticism of her government, saying Labour "continue to treat the Scottish people with contempt".
In his speech at the Labour conference, Starmer claimed the UK is “more progressive together”.
The Labour leader then said: “We are greater as Britain than we would be apart.
“As Gordon Brown said recently, when a Welsh or Scottish woman gives blood, she doesn’t demand an assurance that it must not go to an English patient.
“I’m delighted that Gordon will lead our commission to settle the future of the Union.”
The SNP said the speech highlighted how “out of touch” the party is in Scotland and that they are “doomed to irrelevance”.
READ MORE: Keir Starmer makes odd claim about Scots blood donation during conference speech
Starmer also told Labour party delegates that Scotland is in the “unfortunate position” of having two bad governments – the SNP in Holyrood and Tories in Westminster.
Speaking to LBC News, the First Minister hit out at Starmer's comments, saying: "Of course Scotland has just had an election where it re-elected the government I lead with a historically high share of the vote.
"I think I'd rather listen to the Scottish people than to Keir Starmer, with the greatest respect. Thankfully of all of the many problems I've got to deal with on a daily basis right now from Covid to fuel shortages and everything in between, thankfully trying to sort out the Labour Party is not one of my responsibilities."
She went on: "Listening to them this week, it's clear that particularly in a Scottish sense, they have learned none of the lessons they should have learned over the past 10 years or so.
"They continue to make the same mistakes, they continue to treat the Scottish people with contempt in terms of their views and how the Scottish people vote, but that's their problem and I'll leave them to get on with it."
SNP MP Anne McLaughlin was one of many to criticise Starmer's blood donation comments.
She wrote on Twitter: “Keir Starmer talking nonsense. When a Scottish or Welsh woman gives blood, she doesnt say it mustn't go to someone English.
“What kind of argument against #IndyWales / #indyscotland is that supposed to be?
“Not got headspace to unravel that one. Come up with proper arguments!”
Fellow MP Pete Wishart tweeted: "Just simply awful. No wonder they’re nowhere in Scotland."
Another Twitter user wrote: “Disgraceful comment on Scottish people not wanting blood to go to English people by @Keir_Starmer."
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