The SNP has claimed that only independence can offer Scotland a stable future, as Labour continues to grapple with internal divisions and growing criticism of its leadership at Westminster.
The party’s Depute Leader, Keith Brown MSP, said Scotland was being treated as an “afterthought” while the UK Government was consumed by scandal and political infighting.
His comments follow a second week of controversy surrounding Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s decision to stand by Lord Mandelson, despite mounting pressure over the US Ambassador’s position.
In Scotland, tensions within Labour have deepened after the sacking of Ian Murray as Scottish Secretary last week, with senior party figures engaging in open disputes.
Keith Brown said the Labour government was quickly falling into the same patterns of dysfunction as its predecessor.
“Labour promised that they would deliver change,” he said.
“Instead, we have just seen more of the same scandal and chaos which epitomised the previous Tory government.”
He said the Prime Minister was more focused on managing headlines than governing.
“For weeks now, the Prime Minister’s focus has clearly been on trying to manage one scandal after another rather than running the country,” said Mr Brown.
“As always with Westminster, Scotland is an afterthought.”
The SNP contrasted Labour’s recent troubles with what it described as a more outward-looking Scottish Government.
This week, First Minister John Swinney held direct talks with the US President to make the case for easing whisky tariffs, an issue with major implications for Scotland’s export economy.
Mr Brown said independence offered Scotland the opportunity to take control of key decisions that directly affect its future.
“After little more than a year in power, this Labour government is in complete chaos and it offers no solutions to the things which matter most,” he said.
“The economy is stagnating, food and energy bills are spiralling out of control, and unemployment is going up.”
“Scotland deserves better than this.”
“With the fresh start of independence, decisions about Scotland’s energy, economy and immigration policy can be made here in Scotland and we can escape this chronic Westminster chaos for good.”
