SCOTTISH Labour have hit back at the SNP leader of Edinburgh council after he called for them to “correct the record urgently” regarding Richard Leonard’s parliamentary comments about the capital’s Covid level.
Leonard, Scottish Labour’s leader, had accused Nicola Sturgeon of making “political” decisions on Covid restriction levels and claiming this “will deter compliance”.
Speaking at FMQs, Leonard claimed the Scottish Government was making Covid decisions in an “arbitrary and ad-hoc” way and not following scientific advice.
The Labour MSP's claims were met with disbelief in the chamber, with the First Minister suggesting listeners “just take a step back and reflect on how utterly ridiculous the content of Richard Leonard’s question to me there just was”.
READ MORE: Edinburgh council leader asks Richard Leonard to 'urgently' correct FMQs claims
The Labour leader also said: “We know that public health officials briefed the council leadership and chief executive of Edinburgh that the city should be moved to level 2.
“That’s not just hearsay, that’s what is stated in an emergency motion being moved by the SNP leader of this council this [Thursday December 10] afternoon.”
The following day Adam McVey, the leader of Edinburgh council, tweeted: “You stated public health officials told me we’d move to level 2 – this isn’t true and I’ve never said.
“You stated my motion at yesterday’s council contained your claims above – it doesn’t … Can you correct the record urgently please? This is serious and we’re all trying to work as hard as we can to protect public health, businesses and jobs.”
McVey also shared the council motion in question. It says that public health advice supports the case for Edinburgh to be moved into level 2 but that “despite robust representations [from the council] … this has not happened”.
Scottish Labour have since doubled down on their leader’s claims, saying McVey is back-tracking because the SNP top brass have told him too.
Scottish Labour said: "John Swinney was clearly rattled in the chamber [at FMQs] when Richard Leonard called him out - and now Adam McVey has got into trouble with his political masters.
"McVey needs to decide if his job is standing up for the SNP leadership, or standing up for the city of Edinburgh he is elected to represent."
READ MORE: Covid in Scotland: More than 1000 Scots test positive and 39 deaths recorded
McVey today said he was “disappointed” with Scottish Labour’s response, adding: “I’ll continue to fight for Edinburgh - that’s my job. It’s a lie to suggest anyone in Gov or SNP has tried to interfere with me doing that job.
“If [Leonard] won’t correct the record, I’ll write to the Presiding Officer.”
Yesterday, a judge ruled that the Government’s decision to keep Edinburgh in Covid level 3 was legitimate.
You can read the emergency motion at the centre of the dispute here:
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