SNP's downfall

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【Summary】Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer claims that the SNP is resorting to dirty tactics in a by-election battle with Labour because they have "run out of road." He accuses the nationalists of "imploding" and suggests their negative campaigning is a sign of desperation. The SNP MSP Clare Haughey faced backlash for spreading an attack on a local school on social media but later apologized.

FutureCar Staff Aug 15, 2023 5:27 PM PT

The SNP and Labour are engaged in a heated by-election battle, with Sir Keir Starmer accusing the nationalists of resorting to dirty tactics. During a visit to the Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, the Labour leader claimed that the SNP's negative campaigning was a sign of desperation, suggesting that they were "imploding".

Clare Haughey, the SNP MSP and former minister representing the area, faced criticism for engaging in "gutter politics" after sharing an attack on a local school on social media. The blog post highlighted pupils' exam results and questioned the performance of the Modern Studies Department, where Michael Shanks, the Labour candidate, teaches. Haughey later apologized following a backlash.

Sir Keir emphasized the need for better representation, stating that the SNP has not only "imploded" but also "run out of road". He argued that their personal attacks and weak arguments were a result of lacking a solid foundation. He also highlighted the importance of scrutinizing the SNP's record after years in office, questioning the state of the country under their leadership.

The by-election is being held because Margaret Ferrier, the previous SNP representative who won the seat in 2019, was removed by constituents after breaking lockdown rules by traveling to London while infected with Covid.