'SHAMELESS' STURGEON WILL BE A TOXIC PRESENCE

Tory brands ex-First Minister's by-election visit a ‘bid to talk up her own failures'

- Ben Borland

"TOXIC" Nicola Sturgeon was accused of "shamelessly hijacking" a crucial by-election in a bid to "desperately talk up her own record" in office.

The former First Minister will join the campaign in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse today, where the Nats are locked in a threeway race with Labour and Reform.

Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Nigel Farage's party, is also expected to visit the constituency ahead of the crunch vote on June 5.

Last night, Ms Sturgeon claimed she was "taking the time" to "highlight the positive impact of SNP policies for children and young families".

However, the measures listed were almost all introduced while she herself was in office.

They include her flagship policies the baby box and the Scottish Child Payment as well taxpayer-funded grants for school clothing and young carers and the expansion of free school meals and childcare.

Pledges

The Scottish Government last year ditched its promise to provide free school meals for all primary school children and previous pledges to provide free bikes and iPads have also been dropped.