Jackie Baillie

We need transparency from the Scottish Legal Aid Board regarding the decision-making process, including why Murrell initially qualified, and what has changed for this now to have been withdrawn.

People across the country will wonder why Peter Murrell was able to qualify for legal aid in the first place, given his healthy salary as the SNP’s chief executive for so many years.

Public trust has been badly damaged by the SNP embezzlement scandal, which has not been helped by John Swinney refusing to answer important questions about how it ever took place.

Action is long overdue and we cannot afford any more delays while lives are being lost.

Behind these heartbreaking figures are lives cut short, families left grieving and communities suffering.

The SNP has a responsibility to boost participation in this important scheme and make it as easy as possible for GPs to take part.

This woeful uptake shows there is a gap between rhetoric and delivery when it comes to women’s health.

Whether it’s bought with a stolen SNP credit card or Reform’s dodgy donations, this campervan seems to keep winding up in the wrong hands.

However, it should not take lengthy legal disputes to get answers from the SNP government.

Too often the SNP operates under a cloak of secrecy.

We need to see an end to the culture of cover-up that the SNP has created and a renewed commitment to openness and integrity in government.

Freedom of information laws provide much-needed accountability in that context and the FOI commissioner has been a powerful champion for transparency in public life.

This legal challenge could have significant implications for the disclosure of information.

These stark figures show Scotland's shameful health inequalities continue to cost lives.

It is why Scottish Labour has called for an end to above-inflation water bill hikes, and a restriction on bonuses for those at the top of Scottish Water.

It is not right that rich executives are handed massive payouts such as these when people across Scotland are struggling to afford the basics.

These are eye-watering sums for Scottish Water bosses to be picking up.

The purpose of this review must be to improve maternity care in Scotland – but we cannot do that without an unflinching look at what has gone wrong so far.

Scotland’s legal aid system is under enormous pressure and too many people struggle to access support – so it is astonishing that Peter Murrell was able to have all his legal costs paid for by the taxpayer.

This will allow us to continue to build on the hard work of recent years and take Scottish Labour forward, ready to hold the SNP to account and confront the poisonous politics of Reform in Scotland.

The agreed process guarantees a fair and open contest, while ensuring we are able to progress at pace and elect a new Leader without delay.

I want to thank Anas Sarwar for his leadership and friendship.

It's an offer you really can't refuse.

You can hold both positions at the same, but in order to serve in Government he is required to enter the House of Lords.