Sarwar vows to give NHS waiting lists ‘the chop’ as he visits karate dojo

Anas Sarwar has pledged to “give NHS waiting lists the chop” as he visits a karate dojo in Glasgow.

In the last weekend of campaigning before the Holyrood election, the Scottish Labour leader has said the NHS “is not safe with John Swinney or the SNP”.

He has promised to “rescue” the health system from 20 years of SNP “failure”.

The party leader said his priority as first minister would be to cut NHS waiting lists, end the 8am rush for a GP and “bring back the family doctor”.

Scottish Labour has said it would tackle the waiting list backlog by declaring a waiting times emergency, “breaking down barriers” between health boards, and “reforming NHS funding so money follows the patient and people can be treated wherever there is capacity”.

The party said if it forms the next government, it would use all available capacity across Scotland and the UK to get patients treated faster, including short-term use of independent sector capacity where needed, “so patients are not forced to go private for care they should get on the NHS”.

Labour pledged to end corridor care, reduce delayed discharge and speed up ambulance turnaround times.

Ahead of his visit to a dojo in Glasgow, Mr Sarwar said: “Our NHS is not safe with John Swinney and the SNP.

“They have left patients waiting in pain, left families without answers, and pushed our NHS to breaking point.

“You have given the SNP 20 years and Scotland has paid the price. Give me five to save our NHS.

“I’m standing to fix the mess, get the basics right and build a better future for Scotland.

“A Scottish Labour government I lead will give NHS waiting lists the chop.

“We will declare a waiting times emergency, use every bit of available capacity to get people treated faster, end the 8am rush for a GP and bring back the family doctor.

“This election is a straight choice between more SNP failure and change with Scottish Labour.

“On May 7, vote Scottish Labour on both votes for the change Scotland needs.”

A Reform source said: “We are glad to hear that Anas is taking up a new hobby – he’ll be needing something to occupy him after May 7.

Published: 02/05/2026 by Radio NewsHub