Anas Sarwar: National recovery plan key to rebuilding Scotland

Anas Sarwar has said a "national recovery plan" will be at the centre of Scottish Labour's election campaign.

In his first major speech as leader, Sarwar said the party's forthcoming manifesto will focus on "unity, not division".

He said the pandemic had "torn through the very fabric of our society" and called for the next parliament to be a Covid recovery parliament.

Sarwar announced five themes to Scottish Labour's campaign, including a jobs recovery, an NHS recovery, an education recovery, a climate recovery and a communities recovery.

He proposed a "personal comeback plan" for every school pupil based on a needs-based assessment and combined with a mental health assessment.

Education was a notable theme in the speech, as Sarwar also urged for vaccine priority for teachers and a summer comeback programme.

Sarwar said Scottish Labour is no longer "on the sidelines" in the address, which was delivered this morning.

He said in his speech: "Even when lockdown ends, and the virus is almost eliminated, we will still have to pick up the pieces and rebuild the country we love.

"Because the last year has torn through the very fabric of our society. The effects of the pandemic have hit us all, but it has also exposed the deep inequalities in our communities."

Sarwar said Scotland faces a choice of returning "to the old divisions" or pulling together and focusing on recovery.

He continued: "As we come out of this pandemic, we must focus on solutions. Solutions which ensure that Scotland comes back a better, stronger, fairer nation than the one that went into lockdown last year.

"The Scottish Labour Party promises at these elections to offer those solutions. We are the only party that can deliver this.

"I am ready to do that job for you. I want people to know that the Scottish Labour Party I lead will always be on your side.

"I will seek to unite our country. To focus on delivering a Covid recovery parliament.

"So we can rebuild our country with a national recovery plan. Unity, not division. Recovery, not old arguments. Labour back on your side, not on the sidelines."