AN ex-Labour MP has insisted Wes Streeting has made First Minister’s Questions (FMQs) awkward for Anas Sarwar after suggesting “all roads leads back to Westminster” when asked about problems in the NHS.
Streeting, Labour’s shadow health secretary, was asked by Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday why anyone would believe his party would run the NHS better at Westminster given there the NHS in Labour-run Wales has been beset with waiting times issues.
In response he said: “Right across the UK every part of the NHS is in crisis and all roads do lead back to Westminster because even though this is devolved, decisions taken in Westminster have an impact on the NHS across the whole country."
Former Labour MP and MEP Les Huckfield said the admission by Streeting may have caused a headache for Scottish Labour leader Sarwar who regularly leads on the issue at FMQs.
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But Huckfield, who left Labour in 2003 and now backs Scottish independence, said he found it hard to think what else Sarwar would raise given Keir Starmer’s policies are not “palatable” in Scotland.
The National asked Scottish Labour whether they agree with Streeting and whether Sarwar would be changing tack at FMQs as a result, but they are yet to send any response.
Asked if Streeting had made matters awkward for Sarwar at FMQs, Huckfield (below) told The National: “Well, yes.
“He ought to feel awkward about Labour Party policy anyway because there’s not much in Starmer policy, as far as it can be deciphered, which is going to go down very well.”
Last week at FMQs, Sarwar urged John Swinney not to “pass the buck” on the challenges facing the health service, accusing the SNP Government of using a “get out of jail free card” by blaming the UK Government.
But given Streeting has said decisions made at Westminster impact on devolved nations, Sarwar may find it more difficult to talk about an issue he has so far felt “safe” with, Huckfield suggested.
Huckfield – who was a Labour MP for 16 years – added Streeting may not have been been aware of the wider ramifications of what he said about devolution, as he cast doubt on how well briefed senior Labour figures were on Scotland.
Asked whether Sarwar would need to rethink his weekly strategy in the chamber, Huckfield said: “Being ever so blunt, apart from teachers in Glasgow, what else is he going to be able to say?
“He can’t talk much about mainstream Starmer policy because a lot of it is not particularly palatable in Scotland.
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“I suppose he feels fairly safe talking about the NHS because it’s devolved but you’re quite right, when Streeting comes out with this, I think it shows a lot in the shadow cabinet have not worked out what Scotland is all about.
“The Labour Party really hasn’t worked out what to say about Scotland. Streeting may not even have understood the repercussions and ramifications of what he was saying yesterday.”
Pro-independence social media account MSM Monitor said Streeting’s comments were “a disaster” for Sarwar and undermine his “whole attack strategy” against the SNP.
Meanwhile, veteran SNP MP Pete Wishart said: “Wow! Wes Streeting says when it comes to issues in the NHS ‘all roads lead back to Westminster’.
“He needs to get that message communicated to his Scottish Labour colleagues as quick as possible.”
Scottish Labour have been approached for comment.
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