THE SNP’s leader at Westminster has urged Jeremy Corbyn’s successor to co-operate with his and other opposition parties in holding the UK Government to account in these “unprecedented circumstances”.
Ian Blackford said it is the disadvantaged in society who are facing the greatest hardship as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
In an open letter to Labour leadership contenders Sir Keir Starmer, Lisa Nandy and Rebecca Long-Bailey – the winner will be announced this morning – Blackford said that while the priority must be serving the immediate needs of people during this time of emergency, the successful candidate must also look ahead to “the economic and social landscape that will inevitably face us beyond this crisis”.
He urged the successful candidate to unite with the SNP in calling on the UK Government to implement a number of measures to address the crisis, including introducing a universal basic income and increasing statutory sick pay, currently just £94.25 a week.
Blackford also called for Labour to join with the SNP in demanding the UK Government extends the Brexit transition period and introduce stronger welfare protections “This is a crisis affecting every one of us, yet it will not affect us all equally,” said Blackford. “The outbreak of Covid-19 has exposed the inequality at the heart of UK Government policy. We have an economy of insecure work and insecure incomes. Never again should people be placed in this position, and that means radically changing how the economy and public services work for them.”
READ MORE: Jackie Baillie elected Scottish Labour's deputy leader
He added: “I hope the new Labour leader will work with us to ensure a genuine alternative is promoted on Westminster’s opposition benches so we can fundamentally reshape how our society works to make it much fairer and more equal.”
Meanwhile, Corbyn told supporters yesterday his leadership had “changed the agenda on austerity” but that Brexit had prevented Labour from winning power at the last election.
In a parting note to members before he stands down as leader today, he said it had been the “honour of my life to lead this party”. The veteran politician announced he was quitting after leading the party to its worst general election performance in December last year since 1935.
The Islington North MP said he regretted not being able to lead Labour back to power but – in what will be read as a warning to his successor not to deviate from his left-wing path – added: “We have the ideas, policies, energy and organisation to win a Labour government next time.”
Shadow Brexit secretary Starmer is the favourite to succeed Corbyn after a lengthy contest. In his farewell Facebook post, Corbyn said: “Over the past five years we have changed the agenda on austerity and how the economy is run. In 2015, opposing austerity was seen as radical – today it is the political mainstream.
“Of course, we could have achieved so much in government and I am sorry that under my leadership we did not get there. Sadly, the 2019 election was a Brexit election and our attempt to bridge the gap between Leave and Remain voters was unsuccessful.”
Corbyn’s comments come after his wife, Laura Alvarez, accused the media of having “vilified” the outgoing Labour leader and said he was “attacked by his own party” during his four-and-a-half years in the top job.
In a rare public intervention, Alvarez also said the NHS would have been better prepared for the coronavirus pandemic if Labour had united to win power at the 2017 and 2019 elections.
Scotland is in lockdown. Shops are closing and newspaper sales are falling fast. It’s no exaggeration to say that the future of The National is at stake. Please consider supporting us through this with a digital subscription from just £2 for 2 months by following this link: http://www.thenational.scot/subscribe. Thanks – and stay safe.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel