ANAS Sarwar was left red-faced after trying to blame a Scottish Government coronavirus announcement for forcing Scottish Labour to postpone their manifesto launch.

The Scottish Labour leader claimed the party had to cancel their programme launch on Tuesday due to an “unscheduled” announcement by the Government on Covid-19 restrictions.

The virus announcement had in fact been planned for weeks and the gaffe allowed the SNP to suggest Labour’s manifesto was being “hurriedly rewritten to try to prop up a campaign that has so far failed to take on the Tories".

During an appearance on the BBC’s Sunday Show, Sarwar said that the original launch had been planned for last Monday but was cancelled due to a halt in campaigning after Prince Phillip’s death.

He said they had planned to move to this coming Tuesday April 20 but there was "an unscheduled Scottish Government statement now on Covid, despite us seeking clarification from the government on that".

However, the First Minister hit back and pointed out the briefing had been scheduled for weeks as a precursor to restrictions lifting on April 26 – and she had mentioned it during an announcement on April 6.

The SNP added that the announcement had been put in place before the election campaign had kicked off.

Labour's manifesto launch has now been pushed back to Thursday.

Sturgeon hit out at the Labour leader on Twitter. She wrote: “Tuesday’s Covid briefing isn’t unscheduled (last Tuesdays was). It has been scheduled for weeks - indeed, those watching the briefing I did on 6 April would have heard me signal it.”

The National checked the First Minister’s statement during the April 6 briefing, and can confirm she said: “Now, if we do continue to keep the virus under control, as I hope we will, we expect to be able to make further, more significant changes on April 26.

“I hope to confirm these changes – which would include a full reopening of retail and the first phase, a quite significant first phase, of the reopening of hospitality. I hope to be able to confirm that on 20 April.”

READ MORE: Scottish Labour delay manifesto launch due to Nicola Sturgeon's Covid briefing

Long-awaited restrictions that are due to ease from April 26 include the re-opening of indoor and outdoor hospitality, non-essential shops, click and collect, tourist accommodation, and libraries, galleries, and museums.

However, Sarwar doubled down and said that the party had been told not to expect an announcement this week.

He said: “Nicola Sturgeon’s own Minister told me that the ‘scheduled’ briefing this week had been brought forward to last week, so not to expect one.

“I want this campaign to be about ideas – not TV schedules – so we've moved again to ensure we don't clash with a public health announcement.”

But social media users weren’t buying the excuse.

One wrote: “It’s just a fib to say it’s ‘unscheduled’ when it’s been on the books for weeks.”

Another added: “Nonsense, she said she was making announcements on the 20th.”

While one said: “Coronavirus pandemic isn't about schedules it's about giving information. Shows your unionism is more important than saving lives.”

A user said: “This guy wants the Scottish people to give him power and he can't even schedule his election manifesto launch. Is he not aware Covid has not gone just because there is an election?”

Another said simply: “I knew it was scheduled and I’m just an ordinary punter.”

READ MORE: Keir Starmer under fire after flying from London to Scotland for campaign visit

An SNP spokesperson said: "There is clearly a hurried rewrite of the Labour manifesto taking place to try and prop up a campaign that has so far failed to take on the Tories.

"The plans for Covid statements were set out before the election campaign, including that there would be a statement on Tuesday ahead of the planned re-opening of parts of the economy and society on the 26th April to confirm minister's decisions on whether the country can proceed to open up as planned and to provide the essential public health advice that accompanies such decisions."

It comes as Labour’s UK party chief Keir Starmer came under fire from the Scottish Greens after flying into Edinburgh Airport from London for a campaign visit to meet Sarwar.

Starmer was inundated with criticism on social media over his decision to fly north instead of using eco-friendly transportation, while the Greens questioned the party’s commitment to tackling the climate crisis.