Minister denies Rishi Sunak taking a day off amid record-breaking exodus of Tory MPs – UK politics live
Three sources told the Guardian the PM is taking the unusual step of a day away from public events
The Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar will visit Wishaw in North Lanarkshire following the official launch of the party’s campaign on Friday. He says:
This chaotic and dysfunctional Tory government has let down Scots and put their own party interest ahead of the national interest – but the same is true of the SNP.
This is a pivotal moment for Scotland and a chance to reject the division and decline of both the Tories and the SNP.
Our campaign to beat the SNP and end their obsession with independence is going full steam ahead. John Swinney’s shameless defence of Michael Matheson is turning more and more local people away from the SNP.
We’re asking voters to come together and take the opportunity to remove the SNP from every seat possible. We have a big chance in this election, but we need to seize it.
I am proud to stand on the SNP’s record in government, and to contrast it with the record of the Westminster parties.
We have managed to achieve so much in the face of 14 years of Westminster austerity because we are the only party that will always put Scotland first – and which is focused on people’s priorities.
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