26APR

Sarwar wins NHS round; Compston backs SNP

1 min read

13:33UTC

The BBC Holyrood debate from Paisley produced what The Times called a slam-dunk on the NHS for Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar against John Swinney; actor Martin Compston urged voters on Thursday 23 April to back the SNP to keep Farage out of Scotland.

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Key takeaway

Labour squeezes the SNP on NHS; Compston squeezes back to keep Reform out of Scotland.

The BBC Scotland Holyrood debate from Paisley produced what The Times described as "a slam-dunk victory on the NHS" for Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar against First Minister John Swinney ¹. Sarwar declined to answer what mechanism would need to be in place for a second independence referendum to be granted. Scottish Labour analysis claims the party is the "best choice to stop SNP" in two-thirds of Scottish constituencies, framing the campaign as a tactical squeeze rather than a contest for first place.

Actor Martin Compston, of Line of Duty, urged voters on Thursday 23 April to back the SNP "to keep Farage out of Scotland", targeting Reform UK's projected 20-22 Holyrood seats . STV will host the next Scottish leaders debate from Edinburgh's Signet Library on Tuesday 28 April, moderated by Colin Mackay. The two appeals run in opposite directions on the centre-left vote: Labour's tactical-squeeze pitch presses second-preference voters away from the SNP, while Compston's appeal pulls them back.

Deep Analysis

In plain English

Scotland is also holding a Parliament (Holyrood) election on 7 May. BBC Scotland held a leaders debate in Paisley, west of Glasgow, with all the major party leaders. Anas Sarwar, who leads Scottish Labour, pressed John Swinney (the SNP leader and First Minister) hard on NHS waiting times in Scotland. Multiple commentators, including The Times, described Sarwar as having clearly won the NHS exchange. Around the same time, actor Martin Compston , best known for the TV drama Line of Duty, filmed in Scotland , posted a video urging people to vote SNP. His argument was that the SNP, as the likely biggest party, was the best defence against Reform UK winning regional list seats in Scotland. This created an interesting split: Sarwar wants voters to switch from the SNP to Labour; Compston wants them to stick with the SNP. Both were targeting the same audience of voters who dislike Reform UK, but pushing them in opposite directions. A second Scottish leaders debate is scheduled on STV on 28 April, presenting Swinney with an opportunity to respond before polling day.

Sources:ITV News

Mentions:John Swinney →Scottish Labour →STV →Nigel Farage →Holyrood →Parliament →Reform UK →Time →Glasgow →Scottish National Party (SNP) →BBC Scotland →Anas Sarwar →Martin Compston →Colin Mackay →

First Reported In

Update #5 · 11 Days to Go: Six-of-six, RPA dies, Welsh lead flips

ITV News· 26 Apr 2026

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Different Perspectives

Green Party

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UK Labour Government

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Scottish National Party (SNP)

John Swinney committed to a Section 30 vote on the first Holyrood sitting day post-appointment and a draft referendum bill within 100 days, reframing the 58-seat result as a working mandate despite missing his own 65-seat trigger. Westminster's pre-stated refusal of a Section 30 order means the constitutional confrontation is now a matter of timing.

Plaid Cymru

Rhun ap Iorwerth confirmed on 8 May that Plaid would attempt to govern Wales as a minority, ruling out immediate coalition talks and naming budget priorities as the test of cross-party support. The 43-seat result leaves Plaid six seats short of the 49-seat majority threshold.

Reform UK

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Wales Governance Centre

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