Lamont repeats mistake at First Minister's Questions

By our Political correspondent Nat Hunter

fmq alexScottish Labour leader Joanne Lamont has been openly criticised by members of her own party following a poor performance in First Minister's Questions, when she appeared to repeat a mistake which she had made in the previous session of parliament.

In March 2013, Ms Lamont brought two elderly hospital patients to the visitor's gallery in an attempt to embarrass the government over an alledged shortage of blankets in Scottish hospitals.

The stunt was widely viewed at the time as having been demeaning to the visitors, as well as to the Labour party itself.

The embarrasisng situation was partly recovered when First Minister Alex Salmond took the pensioners for tea, along with the then Health Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.

Ms Lamont appeared to make a similar error of judgement in today's FMQ, as she repeatedly asked a question on another hospital related matter.

A transcript of today's session follows: 

 

PRESIDING OFFICER: We now move to First Minister's Questions. Question number one, Johann Lamont.

JOHANN LAMONT: Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. Can I ask the First Minister what engagements he has planned for the rest of the day?

PRESIDING OFFICER: First Minister.

ALEX SALMOND: Welcoming the announcement of hundreds of new jobs, and generally making Scotland a much better place to live and work, as per usual.

JOHANN LAMONT: That's all very nice, but the increasing number of Scottish hospital toilets left unflushed is not so nice, particularly those containing wee joabies. Can the First Minister explain the two-fold increase in hospital floaters since this SNP Government came to power?

ALEX SALMOND: Might I just say to Ms. Lamont, in the kindest possible way, that given the collection of MSPs sitting behind her, the subject of 'wee joabies' may not be the safest for her to broach. I would add that the issue of floaters might be better taken up with the management of the hospitals concerned, or even the Labour-run Glasgow health Board, rather that being brought to the Scottish Parliament.

JOHANN LAMONT: As usual, the First Minister tries to avoid the question put to him. So I will put it to him again. How does he explain the massive increase in floater incidents that has been recorded by Glasgow Health Board over the last few years. And when is he going to finally take action on this most urgent and important of matters.

ALEX SALMOND: I would caution Ms. Lamont, in the kindest possible and most gentle manner, to ensure that she has her facts right before making these accusations. After all, she will be aware that her Health Spokesperson made a statement only last month concerning bears shitting in the woods, only to be reminded that the last wild bear in Scotland was killed years ago by a previous Conservative administration, and that her own party did nothing to protect these animals at the time of their extinction.

As I pointed out to Ms. Baillie at the time, several previously extinct species have been reintroduced by this administration, from the otter to the timber wolf, but the reintroduction of the bear would require land reform only possible with the full powers of an independent nation. We are still waiting for Ms. Baillie's apology for this gaffe.

JOHANN LAMONT:Yet again, the first minister avoids answering the question. Well, my constituent, Mrs. Ephemia MacLumpher, a 98 year old pensioner and great grandmother from Paisley, would like to hear the First Minister's answer. She was confronted by one of these floaters when trying to use a hospital toilet last week. And Effie and her husband, Jock, are sitting in the visitor's gallery right now.

What is more, I have the offending toly right here in my hand, as indisputable proof of the callous disregard paid by this government to the very real problem of hospital-based flushing failures.

ALEX SALMOND: I would very very gently ask Ms. Lamont to put the offending log away as it is stinking out the front benches and, frankly, does nothing to advance her argument. My Health Minister and I would be more than happy to meet with Mr. and Mrs. MacLumpher, after this session is complete, and as soon as the opposition leader has washed her hands.

And finally, can I implore Ms Lamont to keep this sort of shite for her party conferences, and away from The Scottish Parliament which has more weighty matters to discuss.

TRANSCRIPT ENDS

Johann Lamont, "What is more, I have the offending toly right here in my hand"
Lamont: "What is more, I have the offending toly right here in my hand".

Ian Davidson MP, Chairman of the Scottish Affairs committee on cleaving Britain asunder, said: "Wee Stairhead let Fat Alec aff the hook there, aw right. If that wis me, ah'd a geen him a right doin, so ah wid."

Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont was unavailable for comment.


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