Anas Sarwar
Scottish Labour · Scotland
“Before I begin, I join others in condemning the appalling anti-Muslim attack in Edinburgh. No Scot should live in fear and every Scot should live in safety. Our thoughts are with those who were injured and with the wider Muslim community. I put on record my thanks to all the emergency services that responded so quickly and effectively.”
“It says that the “sector faces significant challenges”, that the Government “lacks a clear plan”, that reforms have “not been adequately resourced” and that there is a risk that it “will not achieve the intended outcomes.” In 2022, Audit Scotland concluded that the Scottish National Party Government had “not provided the necessary leaders…”
“Seven months after a national review into maternity services was committed to, Professor Christine McCourt has finally been appointed as its chair. Although that is welcome, more urgency is needed. Earlier this month, Healthcare Improvement Scotland published its report into the Queen Elizabeth university hospital.”
“I put on the record my thanks, and the thanks of the Scottish Labour Party, for the work done by Dorothy Bain KC as Lord Advocate over the past five years. Dorothy Bain is a highly regarded professional who has given dedicated service to her country and her profession, and we thank her for that service.”
“The law must serve the public; it must not serve the convenience of institutions, the comfort of ministers or the interests of those who are already in positions of power.”
“Ruth Charteris is someone whom I like, respect and hold in high regard, as I do her predecessor, and I have no doubt that she will do the job to the best of her ability and to the standard that the people in this country expect.”
The complete record
Every one of 254 lines we hold for Anas Sarwar, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 3 of 6.
“I begin by paying tribute to the late Jeane Freeman. My thoughts and those of all members of the Scottish Labour Party are with Jeane’s partner Susan and Jeane’s friends, family and former colleagues. Jeane and I had many political disagreements, but I have to pay tribute to Jeane Freeman, because the progress that families, doctors and I have been able to make on the Queen Elizabeth university hospital was possible because Jeane Freeman was willing to listen, to reflect and to act. I put on record my thanks to Jeane for her commitment to Scotland and her commitment to public service. [Applause.] I also firmly believe that, if Jeane Freeman was still the health secretary, we would not be having this debate today.”
“John Swinney has repeatedly said in the chamber that the first time that the Scottish Government became aware of infection issues at the Queen Elizabeth university hospital was in March 2018. Does he stand by that position?”
“This is a matter of the safety of, and public trust in, our institutions in the here and now. The health secretary must do his job and make sure that we protect patient safety. The Presiding Officer: Mr Sarwar, with regard to that being a point of order, that is not a matter for the chair. The member will know at this point that the accuracy of the contribution that members make is a matter for them, ordinarily. Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill”
“On a point of order, Presiding Officer. It is incredibly important that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care gives true information in the chamber. That is massively important when we think about safety concerns at the hospital. The cabinet secretary has this afternoon repeatedly presented evidence from the inquiry as saying that the hospital is safe and he has selectively quoted transcripts of evidence from the counsel to the inquiry. I will quote what the counsel actually said on the final day of the hearings. These are the words of Fred Mackintosh: “the key point to make today is that the whole hospital ventilation system has not been validated. The general wards have not been validated. It’s most concerning that it’s still not been done.” This is not a matter of the inquiry concluding and making recommendations.”
“I do not wish to second guess the public inquiry’s conclusions. However, I recognise the questions that have been raised by Mr Sarwar and others about the safety of the hospital now. That is why I sent Healthcare Improvement Scotland into Queen Elizabeth university hospital last year to get assurances. We have set up the independent oversight group to look at all those issues so that the public, Mr Sarwar, families and others— [Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Let us hear the cabinet secretary. Neil Gray: —can get assurance on the current safety of the hospital, which, I am clear, is safe.”
“I recognise the time that it has taken and I recognise that the process is still to conclude, but that is the route through which we will get answers and get to the independent truth, which is why I believe that it should be allowed to run its course. Mr Sarwar does not need to believe me regarding the issues that we are talking about, either in terms of what the Government knew when or whether there was political influence. Those are matters of public record that have been led in evidence before the public inquiry. That is why I can say those things, as I have, because I am quoting evidence that has come through from the public inquiry. The public inquiry has also heard about the validation of the hospital. That is a matter of public record, which Anas Sarwar will recognise and understand.”
“As I said last week, on current issues, I will not be satisfied until the brave doctors who exposed the truth are satisfied. If the health secretary believes in honesty and transparency, and if he is to have a shred of credibility in his job, he needs to answer the basic questions that he could not answer last week. Can he now answer these questions? Has the hospital been validated: every ward and every unit? Has that report been shared with those three infection control doctors? Has it been independently verified, and will he publish the reports—yes or no? Neil Gray: I recognise the time that it has taken to get to this point. On transparency, the public inquiry was established by Jeane Freeman in order to get to the answers that Mr Sarwar and the families are asking for.”
“It has been seven years. For seven years, families, staff and I have been raising concerns about the Queen Elizabeth hospital, and, for seven years, Scottish National Party ministers told us that there was nothing to see. We have had seven years of dither, denial, lies, gaslighting and bullying—that is the context that the health secretary ignores today. Families have got to where they are today because they fought the system—a system that protected reputations rather than patients. Let me tell the health secretary this: nobody believes him when he says that there were no warnings of issues until March 2018, and nobody believes him when he says that pressure was not applied. They will be found out. Although I welcome the new oversight group, the truth is that we have been here before.”
“I end with some words that Jim Wallace said when he was moderator: “Today we must be ready to go out from our buildings, and get alongside people … ‘in our towns and cities, in homes, around tables, in the fields at work’”— all in the good cause, to spread hope and humanity. Jim Wallace leaves our politics poorer. He leaves our social circles poorer. He leaves Scotland poorer without him. He also leaves us with an example to follow—a life dedicated to public service, to ideals and to the great people of Scotland. To Rosie and all his family, we send our deepest condolences. We were all so lucky to know him and to have him. 14:30”
“Principle, because he was such a proud believer in devolution and the Scottish Parliament, and he shares in all the successes that this Parliament has had. I know that there have been Labour First Ministers but they could not have done their job if they did not have a man of the stature of Jim Wallace alongside them. Dedication, because he was dedicated to his family, to liberty, to public service, to faith, to Scotland and, of course, to Rangers, which was a deep passion of his. In all the roles that he had, he was a unifier, whether as a member of Parliament, a member of the Scottish Parliament, Deputy First Minister, Advocate General or Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. He believed in bringing together people of all faiths and all political persuasions to make progress as a country.”
“When putting together my comments today, I was thinking about the words I would use to describe Jim Wallace—kindness, decency, wisdom, principle and dedication. Kindness, because every single time you met him, he met you with warmth and enthusiastic encouragement, regardless of what politics you had. Decency, because he believed in bringing people together. He did his politics through gentle persuasion, rather than through some of the more cut-and-thrust methods of modern political times. Wisdom, because he could see ahead, and I know how significant a role he played in persuading Labour politicians about devolution and this Parliament, or indeed Scottish National Party politicians about devolution and this Parliament.”
“I start by saying how phenomenal the speeches have been. It is a genuine privilege to speak about the great man that was Jim Wallace. We are all deeply saddened by his passing. First and foremost, our thoughts are with his amazing wife, Rosie, his two daughters, Helen and Clare, and his brother, Neil. I know that they will feel his passing most deeply. I know how huge a part of their life he was, but they should be so proud of the man he was, what he dedicated his life to and what he achieved. I also offer condolences to our friends in the Liberal Democrats. I know that they will feel his loss sharply, but he was honestly loved and respected right across the political spectrum, as they will have heard today.”
“At the time that the Queen Elizabeth university hospital was opened, Nicola Sturgeon was the First Minister, John Swinney was the Deputy First Minister and finance secretary, who signed the cheques, and Shona Robison was the health secretary. We now know that the hospital was opened too early and when it was not ready, with devastating consequences, including avoidable infections and deaths. External pressure was applied to open the hospital. Why did Scottish National Party ministers put politics before patient safety?”
“I want to put on record that I recognise the extraordinary work that happens at the hospital every single day and the fact that many NHS staff go above and beyond. However, that must be true for every patient and every family. One failure is one too many, and what happened is not simply one failure but, without question, the biggest scandal in the history of this”
“More than a decade ago, the Queen Elizabeth university hospital opened before it was ready. It opened with contaminated water; that contamination infected patients and led to the deaths of at least two children. Weeks before the children’s hospital opened, an internal report warned of a high risk of infection and, therefore, a high risk to life for immunocompromised patients. That warning was ignored. Children were forced to fight not only cancer but unseen danger inside the very walls that were meant to protect them. I believe that to be at least negligence but, more likely, criminal incompetence. Pressure was applied and the hospital opened anyway, with devastating consequences.”
“Much of John Swinney’s answers are simply not credible. This week, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said of the Queen Elizabeth university hospital that “Pressure was applied to open the hospital on time and on budget, and it is now clear that the hospital opened too early. It was not ready.” The hospital opened with contaminated water, which infected people and led to the deaths of at least two children. Weeks before the children’s hospital opened, an internal report—I have it here—warned of a high risk of infections and, therefore, a high risk to life for immunocompromised patients. The report was ignored, pressure was applied and the hospital opened anyway, with devastating consequences. Who applied the pressure and why?”
“That is a tax cut worth 11p a week for the lowest earners, while thousands of nurses pay £400 more and thousands of teachers pay £600 more than they would in the rest of the United Kingdom—even his own tax adviser says that this is a political stunt. Why does John Swinney believe that someone earning £33,500 has the broadest shoulders and, therefore, should pay more tax in Scotland?”
“John Swinney’s 19th budget lacks ambition for Scotland, and it fails to deal with the structural issues that are created by this tired Scottish National Party Government, which can be resolved only by changing the Scottish Government in May. While he brags about his £6- a-year tax cut for the lowest paid, a million Scots— [Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Let us hear Mr Sarwar. Anas Sarwar: While he brags about his £6-a- year tax cut for the lowest paid, a million Scots, including nurses, teachers and police officers, face being forced to pay more, all while his Government wastes billions of pounds.”
“Audit Scotland’s report on delayed discharges from hospital is damning and should shame John Swinney and the Scottish National Party Government. It reveals that, in the past year, more than 720,000 bed days were lost to delayed discharge. That is almost three quarters of a million clinically unnecessary days in hospital in a single year for patients who are cleared to leave but many of whom are trapped because they cannot get a care package. Those 720,000 bed days equate to nearly 2,000 bed days lost every day. That is the real-life consequence of almost 20 years of government by John Swinney and the SNP. Is that not 720,000 more reasons why Scotland needs a new Government and new leadership?”
“What we all need to do now, and I think that there is unanimity on this across Parliament, is to focus on our children and how best to protect them in an ever-changing world where the threat to our children, their wellbeing and their safety is ever evolving. I have never demurred or diverted my attention from that priority, and I never will.”
“What I have always accepted is that there is no monopoly on wisdom, on endeavour or on commitment to victims of sexual abuse, whether they are adults or children. Looking at my record in the round, which has included taking through one of the largest and most transformational victims bills in the history of devolution, I think that I can say with some confidence that I have made a contribution. It is a contribution that has made history, for example, through the abolition of the not proven verdict. It is a contribution that will make a difference, through the establishment of a sexual offences court.”
“He defended Michael Matheson over the matter of the iPad bill, and he did the same now with Angela Constance. Does the justice secretary agree that the most important people in this are the victims and survivors of grooming gangs and child sexual exploitation? She has the confidence of John Swinney and of her party, but she has lost the confidence of the victims and survivors of grooming gangs. On that basis, should she not resign? Angela Constance: The facts of the matter are now fully on the record, and they have been independently scrutinised. I appeared at the Education, Children and Young People Committee before Christmas and made an extensive statement there. I am here today before Parliament to account for the position and to accept in full the requirements of the independent report.”
“This has dragged on for 102 days because of the inability of Angela Constance and John Swinney to do the right thing and at the right time. Had Angela Constance put her hands up and said ,“I made a mistake,” this issue would have been done. Instead, John Swinney and Angela Constance put party before country and, even more shamefully, put party before victims of grooming gangs. Independent advisers have now confirmed that Angela Constance breached the ministerial code not once, but twice. That investigation should have been triggered by John Swinney, but instead he followed the culture that he has created from the top—one of secrecy and cover-up and putting his party before country every single time. This is the man who tried to withhold evidence from the Salmond inquiry.”
“At the very moment that families need security, the system is delivering instability. At the very moment that the Government says that it understands the scale of the crisis, social sector house building has fallen to its lowest level on record. Can John Swinney explain how that represents progress or competence or anything resembling a response to the housing emergency that he admits Scotland is facing under the SNP Government?”
“Presiding Officer, before I turn to my question, I wish you, colleagues across the chamber and all parliamentary staff a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. I also offer my sincere thanks to the emergency service workers who will be working throughout the festive period to keep us all safe. Scotland is in a housing emergency; John Swinney has admitted that himself. However, to declare a housing emergency and do nothing is not leadership—it is yet another cowardly stunt. The number of people who are sleeping rough is at its highest point in 14 years. More than 17,000 households are in temporary accommodation, which is the highest figure on record. That is the result of 18 years of Scottish National Party Government. Let us be clear about what is going on. At the very moment that demand is rising, supply is falling.”
“John Swinney should have sacked Angela Constance, but he has not. Shamefully, he is not willing to even refer the matter to the independent advisers on the ministerial code. However, it should not be up to him, which is why I have written to the independent advisers on the ministerial code and asked them to investigate. The justice secretary has lost the confidence of victims. She has lost the confidence of survivors. In my view, she should not have the confidence of this Parliament. She cannot continue in her role. I will end by speaking Taylor’s mum’s words to every MSP in the chamber: “Can you look yourselves in the mirror, knowing that you are supporting her to remain in position against the will of the victims?””
“Her mum said: “Taylor is again feeling that she can trust no one, all because of this Government’s inability to be truthful and transparent.” She said: “Any MSP who chooses to support Angela Constance in this vote is choosing politics over victims. It is as simple as that.” She went on to say: “You cannot say you stand with victims while defending a minister who lied to Parliament, the public and, more importantly, the survivors.” This has now also become a question of John Swinney’s judgment and of whether victims and the public can have confidence in him. Taylor’s mum said: “My daughter and me attended Bute house last week. I travelled over 500 miles in a round trip to meet with the First Minister to spend one and a half hours being lied to my face.” That is utterly damning.”
“She has failed to do so. This has now stopped being an error and has become a matter of honesty and transparency. Let us be clear about why that matters. This is not an abstract argument about process or wording; it is about grooming gangs. The justice secretary misrepresented Professor Jay’s views in order to find an excuse not to have an inquiry into grooming gangs. Victims and survivors should be able to rely on their justice system and their Government to tell the truth, to act with integrity and to put them first. On that, the justice secretary has failed. I want to read the powerful words of Taylor’s mum. Taylor is a brave survivor who has spoken out.”
“I speak in favour of the motion of no confidence in Angela Constance, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs. I do so for one reason above all others: victims and survivors of grooming gangs and child sexual exploitation have lost confidence in this justice secretary. What has led them to lose confidence is that they feel that the justice secretary and this Government are not on their side. That has been cemented by a clear breach of the ministerial code. Angela Constance misrepresented the views of Professor Alexis Jay on an issue as serious as grooming gangs and organised child sexual exploitation. In doing so, she misled this Parliament. Angela Constance has had multiple opportunities to correct the record. She has failed to do so. She has received repeated requests from Professor Alexis Jay herself to correct the record.”
“This morning I lodged a motion of no confidence in the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, Angela Constance. It is clear that she misrepresented Professor Alexis Jay on the serious issue of grooming gangs and misled the Parliament. She has had repeated opportunities to apologise and correct the record, but she has failed to do so. Despite what John Swinney says, she has had repeated requests from Professor Jay to correct the record but she has failed to do so, and victims do not have confidence in her. It is now clear that she cannot stay in her position. She must resign, or John Swinney must sack her. Why is John Swinney defending the indefensible and refusing to do so?”
“Audit Scotland has today published yet another damning report on the Scottish National Party’s mismanagement of our national health service. It is grim reading for John Swinney, but more devastating for patients and staff. The report found that “despite more money ... and more staff ... NHS Scotland’s performance has not improved in line with commitments made by the Scottish Government.” It says that NHS boards are “struggling to break even, with seven ... requiring ... Government loans” and it exposes an “implementation gap” between SNP announcements and the reality for patients. Is it not a damning indictment of John Swinney that, despite his promises, long waits persist, and that, in his hands, the NHS is, in Audit Scotland’s words, “unsustainable”?”
“The end of the two-child cap will benefit 95,000 children in Scotland, so will John Swinney— [Interruption.] They are heckling poverty reduction—who would have thought it? The Presiding Officer: Mr Sarwar, I have asked you— Anas Sarwar: Will John Swinney— The Presiding Officer: Mr Sarwar, in future, when I ask you to put a question, put a question at that point. Continue. Anas Sarwar: Will John Swinney welcome the greatest reduction in child poverty as a result of a UK budget this century?”
“There will be £820 million more for the Scottish Government, with £10.3 billion more— [Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Let us hear Mr Sarwar. Anas Sarwar: Their constituents have benefited from £10.3 billion more since Labour came to power, and the end of the two-child cap— The Presiding Officer: Please ask a question, Mr Sarwar. Anas Sarwar: The end of the two-child cap means that 450,000 children— The Presiding Officer: Question, Mr Sarwar. Anas Sarwar: —will be lifted out of poverty across the UK, and it will benefit— The Presiding Officer: Mr Sarwar, you may put a question now or I will ask the First Minister to address the comments that you have already made. Anas Sarwar: I am asking the question, Presiding Officer. The Presiding Officer: Please do. Anas Sarwar: You have intervened twice already.”
“Eighteen months ago, the people of Scotland got rid of a Tory Government that had done so much damage to our country. Clearing up its mess was never going to be easy—[Interruption.] The Presiding Officer: Let us hear Mr Sarwar. Anas Sarwar: Clearing up its mess was never going to be easy, but UK Labour choices are making a difference. Yesterday, the UK budget delivered an increase to the minimum wage and the living wage, which means another pay rise for 200,000 Scottish workers. The budget will help with the cost of living, with £150 off energy bills and £300 off for those who are most in need. It reinstated the winter fuel allowance and raised the state pension, benefiting 1.1 million pensioners in Scotland.”
“The United Kingdom Covid inquiry is vital so that we can learn lessons, acknowledge mistakes and give answers to mourning families. Given that John Swinney was central to the Scottish Government’s operations before, during and after the pandemic, does he regret deliberately deleting evidence for the inquiry, which frustrated its process? Will he take the opportunity to apologise?”
“I join others in congratulating Steve Clarke and the Scotland men’s team on qualifying for the world cup. They have done the entire nation proud. I remember rushing home from school to watch the Scotland v Brazil game in 1998 and the absolute jubilation when John Collins scored that penalty against Brazil, only for that to be followed by a goal. Anyway, we enjoyed John Collins scoring that penalty. Honestly, I am so proud that my kids will get to experience Scotland playing at the world cup, cheer the team on and develop their own memories for the generations to come. Later today, the Covid inquiry report on political decision making will be published. Covid-19 shook all our lives, with thousands of lives lost in Scotland.”
“Later today, we will hear from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care about the Government’s so-called national health service winter preparedness plan. We have these announcements every year, yet the crisis in our NHS continues. Let us take the example of delayed discharge: this time last year, I called for action on the almost 2,000 hospital beds per day that were being lost because patients could not be discharged. This year, the number is almost exactly the same. Last year, the health secretary admitted that the crisis in the NHS happens not just at Christmas but all year round, so why are we facing another winter unprepared? Why has another year gone by and the Scottish National Party has wasted it? Why do Scots continue to suffer because of John Swinney and his SNP Government’s incompetence?”
“That happened just weeks after footballer Brooke Paterson was left abandoned on the pitch, waiting for an ambulance. What does John Swinney say to Charlie, Brooke and all other Scots waiting in pain?”
“I start by welcoming the First Minister’s change of heart on holding an investigation into Scotland’s maternity services. Less than 24 hours ago, after hearing the heartbreaking testimony of mothers, he whipped his MSPs to vote against such an investigation. I am glad that he went home and thought again. Unfortunately, the situation in maternity services is just a snapshot of the crisis and chaos in our national health service. Scotland’s ambulance service is also in crisis. This week, we heard about Queen’s Park Football Club defender Charlie Fox, who suffered a serious knee injury during a match at Firhill stadium that had a 3 pm kick-off. An ambulance was called, but it did not arrive until 1 am, nearly 10 hours later—10 hours lying in pain.”
“Let us remember them and say that their service will never be forgotten.”
“In the coming days, we will mark remembrance day, a time when we reflect on the heroic sacrifices by armed forces across world war one and world war two, and since those wars, in defence of our freedoms and democracy and to highlight the struggle against fascism in the second world war and against the forces that seek to divide us today. We should also remember those who continue to serve in our armed forces, and we should make a commitment to them that we will protect them and their families while they serve and after they retire from service. Remembrance day is also an opportunity for us to redouble our commitment to peace and freedom for all across the globe. Let us remember all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Let us redouble our commitment to all those who continue to serve.”
“John Swinney and the Scottish National Party are failing to keep Scots safe. On John Swinney’s watch, our justice system is in crisis, as Scots are paying the price of SNP incompetence. This week, Scottish Labour revealed that there are 10,000 outstanding warrants for arrest in Scotland. That includes seven warrants for murder, five for attempted murder, 40 for rape, 1,253 for assault, 72 for domestic violence and 605 for drug charges. There are potential murderers, rapists and drug dealers on our streets. With 10,000 outstanding warrants in Scotland and prison numbers outstripping capacity by several hundred, apart from letting criminals out early or not arresting them at all, what will John Swinney do to tackle the crisis?”
“When it comes to recovery, the picture is just as bleak. The SNP has not delivered the promised rehabilitation beds. Even more shamefully, 77 per cent of areas report being unable to access rehab spaces because they do not have the money that they need from the SNP Government. Rehab beds are lying empty in the middle of a drug deaths emergency. Six years into this emergency, why are beds being left empty, and why are Scots not getting the treatment that they need if they are to recover?”
“I, too, welcome the agreement on a Gaza ceasefire, the end of the bloodshed and the release of hostages. The ceasefire must be real and it needs to last. However, it must also be backed up by an urgent surge in delivery of aid into Gaza and a meaningful pathway towards an end to the illegal occupation and a lasting peace in which every life—whether it be Palestinian or Israeli—is treated as equal. Today, members will vote on the Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill at stage 1. Scottish Labour will support the bill. Six years ago, the Scottish National Party declared a drug deaths emergency. However, six years on, lives are still being lost, families are still grieving and a generation has been failed. In the first six months of this year alone, 607 people died from suspected drug overdoses—that is one life lost every seven hours.”
“I am horrified by the news that is coming out of Manchester today. Like others, my thoughts are with all those who are affected and the wider Jewish community. Yom Kippur should be a time of peace and reflection. Instead, the community has been the victim of hate and violence. We must all stand against antisemitism and all forms of prejudice and hate. This morning, a scathing Audit Scotland report laid bare the Scottish National Party’s failure to support our colleges and young people: a 20 per cent real-terms cut to colleges over the past five years, 30,000 fewer Scots getting college places, and a cash crisis that is putting jobs, institutions and college places at risk. When Scotland needs a new generation of skilled workers, why are apprenticeships and colleges of less value to the SNP than universities?”
“In every part of the country, our national health service is in crisis. This week, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine warned that, last year, long waits in A and E departments caused more than 800 deaths that could have been prevented—that is more than 800 families grieving a loved one. Dr Fiona Hunter of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine said: “Behind this statistic are stories of heartbreak. Because these are people. Mums, dads, brothers, sisters, grandparents—their deaths shattering the lives of families and friends.” Why, year after year, is this happening under the Scottish National Party Government?”
“Our thoughts are with Dee, Morag, his family, his many friends and the many colleagues who knew him and loved him so dearly. [Applause.] 14:16”
“Sadly, I did not have the honour of serving in the Parliament at the same time as George, but I had the honour and privilege of meeting him on a number of occasions. What I remember most about Sir George is that, despite not being in the same party as me, he was nothing other than warm, compassionate and encouraging. I know that that was the case with many young people—and maybe older people— he met in politics across the years. He was always warm, always compassionate and always encouraging. That is the man we will remember so fondly. Indeed, it is that George—intelligent, patriotic, compassionate and warm—the Parliament and Scotland mourn today. I again share the Scottish Labour Party’s condolences on the death of Sir George Reid.”
“It was in that role that he performed some of his most lasting and important work. As has been mentioned, he produced the groundbreaking reports on the Ethiopian famine that awakened the world to the struggles and horrors that were being inflicted on the people of that country. Those reports moved so many people across the world that they led directly to Live Aid and the beginning of famine relief. After that, he worked for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva. His work on supporting victims of the 1988 Armenian earthquake resulted in George receiving state honours from Armenia and the USSR. When the campaign for devolution was won, George was ready to return to politics and to serve the people of Scotland.”
“He joined the SNP as a young man when the party had little support in the country, and he was later elected as part of the SNP wave that was produced by the twin elections in 1974. He served his Clackmannanshire and East Stirlingshire constituents diligently over the turbulent years of the late 1970s, which included the rise of the Tories under Margaret Thatcher and the winter of discontent. After leaving the Parliament in 1979, George returned to journalism, this time marrying his professional expertise with his vast experience of the world. George will be remembered as being a Scottish nationalist, but he was without a doubt an internationalist, as well—a man who cared deeply for the freedom and safety of, and justice for, all his fellow citizens, wherever they were across the globe.”