Nicola Sturgeon squirms as SNP record shredded ahead of key Scottish election
NICOLA STURGEON was confronted with a string of SNP failures in government during a fiery head-to-head interview with STV political editor Colin Mackay.
Nicola Sturgeon grilled on her 'record' as First Minister
The Scottish First Minister was taken to task over her party's record in power during a grueling exchange for the SNP leader. Mr Mackay listed off a litany of policy failures in Scotland under the SNP-led Government at Holyrood. The interviewer blasted problems in education and rising hospital waiting times. He also argued Nicola Sturgeon had taken her "eye off the ball" when it came to drug deaths.
Mr Makay told the First Minister: "You could have done better on education.
"You took your eye off the ball on drug deaths.
"Hospitals opening years late, failing to meet waiting times.
"It is not a great record to take into this election is it?" pressed the host.
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"I obviously don't agree with that characterization of it," replied Ms Sturgeon.
"You can't disagree with any of those things," interrupted the host.
"Those are things you have said!"
Ms Sturgeon fired back: "People have a choice and they have got a choice on May 6.
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"Whether they want a First Minister and a candidate for First Minister to sit and arrogantly say no we have done absolutely everything perfectly.
"There is no room for improvement, there is not more that we want to do.
"Or whether they want a First Minister who says you know what I am really proud of our record.
"But here are the areas where I want us to do even better and this is what we are going to do to do better."
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Earlier in the interview, the pair had clashed after Ms Sturgeon insisted the same number of people in Scotland would be inoculated against coronavirus had the country been independent
Mackay shut down the First Minister's claim by pointing to the vaccine rollouts in countries that the SNP have held up as models for a future independent Scotland such as Ireland and Denmark.
Mr Mackay asked the SNP leader: "Do you think has many people in Scotland would have been vaccinated if we had been independent?"
"Yes" was the response from Ms Sturgeon. "How can you say that!?" retorted the Scottish interviewer.