Nicola Sturgeon tells Sir Keir Starmer to ‘discover a spine’ and describes Labour as ‘pale imitation of the Conservatives’

Nicola Sturgeon has branded Labour a “pale imitation” of the Tories and referred to as on Sir Keir Starmer to “find a backbone” and stand for one thing.

The former Scottish first minister refused to just accept it was a given the SNP will lose seats to Labour on the subsequent basic election, as present polling predicts.

Speaking to broadcaster Iain Dale on the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, she stated there was “no point” in an opposition get together that doesn’t oppose the federal government.

Ms Sturgeon stated: “I have spent my life opposing Tory governments who have never done anything good for Scotland. But what’s the point in a Labour Party that is just a pale imitation of the Conservatives?

“Every time you hear Keir Starmer open his mouth proper now he appears to be at pains to agree with what the Tories are doing or to cut back the distinction between them.

“You have to stand for something in politics or what’s the point of you. Find some backbone, that’s my advice to Keir.”

Labour sees taking again its former Scottish heartlands as essential to successful the subsequent basic election.

A by-election in Rutherglen and Hamilton West, triggered by the suspension of COVID rule-breaker Margaret Ferrier, has offered a chance for the get together to re-establish its credentials north of the border.

But Labour has been on a attraction offensive in Scotland ever for the reason that sudden resignation of Ms Sturgeon in February and the following turmoil within the SNP, which is dealing with a police probe into its funds.

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Ms Sturgeon has repeatedly maintained that her choice to face down had nothing to do with subsequent developments within the investigation.

SNP police probe ‘traumatic expertise’

Asked by Dale when she first realised the search of her house was occurring, she stated: “When it happened.”

Asked if that was “literally the knock on the door” she replied: “Yes. I’m not going to go any further into that, maybe one day I will be able to.”

Ms Sturgeon’s house, which she shares along with her husband and former SNP chief government Peter Murrell, was searched in April with Mr Murrell arrested and questioned by police earlier than being launched with out cost.

Ms Sturgeon was arrested, and likewise launched with out cost, in June.

She stated if she’d had “any idea about what was going to unfold” she would “not have been able to function” within the interval between saying her departure in February and leaving workplace on the finish of March.

She added that it has “obviously been a really difficult, traumatic experience” however she had “faith” within the course of.

“My touchstone I guess in all of it, all along, is I am confident in my own position. I am absolutely certain I have done nothing wrong.

“Therefore I have to and do belief within the course of.

“The police are doing a job and therefore I have to have faith that everything they are doing in the process of that is justified.”

Reconciliation with Salmond not on the playing cards

Ms Sturgeon advised the viewers that her closest group of associates have been “utterly indispensable” in serving to her get by way of the scandal.

But she stated former SNP chief Alex Salmond was firmly not in that class as she dominated out an opportunity of reconciliation along with her predecessor.

The pair had a well-publicised fall-out after Mr Salmond confronted sexual harassment allegations however he stated this week “never say never” when requested in regards to the prospect of repairing their relationship.

However Ms Sturgeon stated: “It doesn’t come from a place of anger any more, I have gone through the whole spectrum of emotions with Alex over the last few years and I am now at a place where there are other people I would rather spend time with.”