Furious Anas Sarwar clashes with BBC journalist over Labour policies

The National

5 hours ago

The Scottish Labour leader dodged questions about his previous comments on GB Energy and a bespoke Scottish visa, instead taking aim at the journalist and accusing them of 'letting the SNP off scot-free'.
First Minister John Swinney would answer questions on the BBC Scotland Sunday Show immediately after Sarwar's tense appearance.
Sarwar made the appearance after his party won a shock by-election victory over the SNP in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse on Friday.
BBC journalist Martin Geissler appeared to spark Sarwar's ire after pointing out that he had said prior to the General Election that GB Energy would create 69,000 jobs.
READ MORE: Scottish independence 'already begun as UK political culture diverges'
Asked how many it has created now, a year later, Sarwar responded: 'Martin, I think you have to live in the real world rather than in a fantasy world.'
Geissler pointed out: 'It's in your manifesto…'
'No, one second to set up the legislation, set up a company, make the appointments in terms of who runs that company, to then start making the investments, and then see the fruits of those investments,' Sarwar said.
'Any sensible person in the country will know that will take longer than 10 months if you are to get to that final outcome…'
Geissler kept trying to interject but a furious Sarwar continued to talk over him, adding: 'It's a crazy suggestion for you to make that somehow a Labour government comes in, after 10 months, we clean up all the mess left by the Tories after 14 years and we build a utopia across our country.
(Image: BBC) 'People didn't buy it in the run up to the by-election so that's why the SNP and Reform lost…'
Later in the interview, as Sarwar tried to turn the focus on Scotland's NHS, Geissler tried to make a point about immigration policy impacting the health service's ability to get staff.
Sarwar fired back: 'It's down to mismanagement of the SNP…'
Geissler tried to finish his point, even going so far as to say 'no no no, I'm talking' and asking Sarwar to 'please' let him finish.
But the Scottish Labour leader continued his rant, adding: 'The NHS is completely in the control of the SNP and you're falling for the exact same narrative that commentators had going into the by-election…'
READ MORE: SNP must turn support for independence into 'real political action'
'Commentators embarrassed, pollsters embarrassed, pundits embarrassed and frankly your questions are embarrassing too, Martin.'
Geissler fired back: 'I think you should be slightly embarrassed that you're not listening to my questions.'
'Go for it,' Sarwar said.
An exasperated Geissler could be heard saying 'right', before asking Sarwar about his previous claims he was speaking to the Home Office about a 'bespoke visa system' for Scotland's needs. He then asked if Scotland would get its own immigration system.
Sarwar replied: 'No, why would we have our own immigration system? We would have an immigration system that's tailored for the needs of individual parts of the country. That's what we said.'
'I thought you said you'd had talks with the UK Government about a bespoke Scottish visa system?' Geissler asked.
'Again, Martin, you are misleading in your characterisation,' Sarwar said.
(Image: BBC) 'We have always said a single UK Border Agency, a single UK Home Office, but [an] immigration system that reflects the needs of different parts of the country.
'But again you want to talk about a UK Labour Government and let the SNP off scot-free'
Geissler pointed out that the First Minister was due to be interviewed next and he wanted to talk about Labour policy.
Again, talking over the journalist, Sarwar said: 'But talk about what we're going to do here in Scotland, talk about how we're the only party that can remove the SNP from office, talk about how we're going to fix the NHS, talk about how we're going to fix our schools..'
Geissler pointed out that he had been trying to, while Sarwar continued to talk over him.