EVEN by Richard Leonard’s standards, his calamity at this week’s FMQs was spectacular.
He left his own MSPs bemused and the SNP benches in fits of laughter after attacking Labour’s record in government.
He pointed to a new Audit Scotland report which showed the public sector has paid £13.1 billion in annual payments for a total of 136 projects built since 1998-99 and will pay a further £27bn between now and 2047-48.
Those buildings were constructed under both Labour’s PFI and the SNP Non-Profit-Distributing model – something Leonard seemed to overlook.
READ MORE: Richard Leonard stuns MSPs with astonishing gaffe at FMQs
READ MORE: Desperate Labour spin doctors spring into action after Leonard blunder
It’s fair to say his criticism of Nicola Sturgeon – who welcomed the line of attack – was doomed to fail.
Here’s the astonishing exchange in full.
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We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
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