NICOLA Sturgeon has rejected claims from her critics that she dodged scrutiny by failing to invite newspaper journalists to an SNP election campaign event on Friday.
The First Minister appeared in Govanhill, Glasgow, on Friday morning as she launched the SNP campaign for the upcoming council ballots.
The SNP argued that media invitations for the event were limited to broadcast journalists because it was not a standard campaign launch. However, some print reporters decided to head to the event anyway and try their luck.
Opposition politicians raged over the decision not to ask print reporters to attend, with LibDem chief Alex Cole-Hamilton accusing the First Minister of behaving like Donald Trump.
Douglas Ross, the Scottish Tory chief currently self-isolating with Covid-19, organised an impromptu virtual press Q&A arguing he could answer the questions that Sturgeon would not.
When this criticism was put to Sturgeon during her People’s Pantry appearance, she rejected it.
“I don't think any of that is true. Because of the tightness of the space in there, we didn't invite people in there because there's limited space, but this is a public pathway, you are here. So clearly, I'm not avoiding the press,” she told the media.
.@NicolaSturgeon visiting the People’s Pantry in Govanhill this morning - a great charity helping local people at the sharp end of the Tory made cost of living crisis.
— Erik Geddes (@erikgeddes) April 8, 2022
On May 5 send Boris a message and #VoteSNP #Council22 🗳 pic.twitter.com/s6lZEJLl1H
“I think probably if you go back over the last couple of years, in particular, I'll have answered more questions from the press than any other politician in the entirety of the UK, which is right because that's my job.
“So this is not our manifesto launch as I saw a lot of journalists allege this morning that it was, our manifesto launches next week when you will be welcome to attend. I'll be doing the Glasgow manifesto launch tomorrow, which I think press are welcome to attend."
When pressed on the failure to invite print journalists, and told that some reporters had made their way there despite the lack of invitation, Sturgeon said it was clear they had "lots of initiative".
"You see this tightness of space in there. That's why it wasn't an open invitation to everybody because it wouldn't have been possible," she went on.
"I'm standing here, I'm happy to answer any questions you want to ask me. And it just seems to me a bit odd that you asked me questions about not answering your questions and I'm standing here saying ask me questions.”
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The exchange came as Sturgeon called on Scots to use their council vote to send a message to Boris Johnson.
“Cast a verdict on Tory policies that leave hundreds of thousands of Scots struggling with their daily lives," she said.
“And cast your vote to send a message to Boris Johnson that Scotland has had enough of his incompetent, sleaze-ridden government.”
During the event, Sturgeon pledged that SNP councillors will “prioritise the cost-of-living crisis” with action at a local level.
She added: “The SNP Scottish government is already doing what we can to ease the burden on hard-pressed families and, if elected, SNP councillors will prioritise the cost-of-living crisis in Scotland’s council chambers.
“But we cannot let the Tories away with disgraceful inaction while households are forced into poverty.”
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