Councils withdraw support for National Care Service plan

Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, Jackie Baillie, accused the SNP of “botching” the plan, adding that it would “not deliver the social care change that Scotland needs”.

She added: “Social care in Scotland is at breaking point, but the SNP’s plans will deliver a National Care Service in name only – it will not fund a single extra care worker, nor will it fix any of the fundamental issues in our social care sector.

“Scottish Labour will not sign a blank cheque for SNP incompetence that could expose the public purse to eye-watering costs – that is why we voted against this flawed Bill at Stage 1. It now seems that many of the key stakeholders believe that the legislation is so flawed it should not proceed.”

Conservative health spokesman, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, added: “SNP ministers must finally accept that the game is up for their botched National Care Service plan.

“Virtually every major stakeholder is opposed to this bill, so the SNP must admit defeat, rather than continuing to throw good money after bad on this doomed and unaffordable project.”