John Swinney says Tory attacks on Keir Starmer spending time with family are 'disgusting'

John Swinney has said that Tory attacks on Keir Starmer for wanting to spend Friday evenings with his family are "disgusting".

The Labour leader said earlier this week he would try to be off work after 6pm on a Friday if he is elected to spend times with loved ones.

Some Tories attacked Starmer, with Rishi Sunak saying that being Prime Minister "entails sacrifice".

SNP leader and First Minister Swinney said it was important to spend time with family when in office.

But he added that he expected Starmer would be willing to deal with problems during his family time if they come up.

Swinney was visiting the Scottish Power Training Centre in Cumbernauld on Wednesday.

He was joined by SNP candidate Stuart McDonald and MSP Jamie Hepburn.

When asked if he was concerned that he wouldn't be able to get hold of Keir Starmer after 6pm on a Friday, Swinney said: "No, I'm not.

"I think this is probably one of the most disgusting things I've heard, of the many disgusting things I've heard the Conservative Party going on about.

"I can only speak personally. I spend time with my family. I make time for my family.

"I don't have a rigid routine but there are certain things that we do as a family which we take our time [for].

"But, and my family and testify to this, if something happens, I've got to deal with it and I'm available to deal with it.

"I'm sure Sir Keir Starmer will be able to deal with it.

"The Conservatives... this is one of the many reasons why I just think they have lost a lot of sense of decency over what they're saying about people."

When asked how important having family time was, he said: "Crucial. I couldn't function effectively without feeling that I was doing justice to my family relationship.

"If you're a politician that works 24 hours a day and there's nothing else in your life, I don't think you're a very good politician.

"Because there are times when you need to take stock and be with your family.

"And that balance is critical to every one of us. It's critical to me. I'm going to make no apology for it.

"As I say, and my family can testify to this, we've had lots of holidays cancelled. Actually, this is one of them.

"We should have been on leave this week, but we're not because of the election.

"So things happen. You have to change your plans. But you've got to understand that and you've got to balance it out other times."

Swinney was also asked about comments from Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross saying the SNP would "lie through their teeth" to get votes.

The First Minister said the comments were "unworthy of a response."

He continued: "I think it tells us all we need to know about Douglas Ross.

"Douglas Ross singlehandedly, I think, has contributed more than anyone else to the toxicity of relationships in the Scottish Parliament.

"And that's another comment to add to the list."

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