Labour pledges to cut wait for cancer testing by half

Scottish Labour today pledged to introduce a right to see a cancer specialist and get results within two weeks, halving the current waiting time of one month.

Leader Iain Gray said he would make the policy a priority if he becomes First Minister.

More than 15,000 Scots died from cancer last year. Labour said it was committed to improving efforts to reduce the risk of cancer through the promotion of healthier lifestyles, but was also determined to bring in the two-week cancer waiting time guarantee.

Mr Gray said: "Labour created the NHS, supported the NHS and defended the NHS in its hour of darkest peril. After the neglect of the Tory years in the 1980s and 1990s, Labour set out to make the National Health Service a shining jewel of our country again. Last year, 15,000 Scots tragically died from cancer and almost everyone knows someone whose family has been affected by the disease.

"While Scotland has a world-class cancer treatment service, getting an early diagnosis is still a big problem. If I am First Minister, I will make our guarantee a priority."

In an interview today, Mr Gray, who was due to go canvassing in Linlithgow with candidate Mary Mulligan, accused Alex Salmond of forming too cosy a relationship with David Cameron, and said he had been duped by the Prime Minister's promise to treat Scotland with "respect".

"The people of Scotland want the (Scottish] Parliament and Scottish Government to be standing up for Scotland against the Tories and frankly I don't think the SNP track record on this is good," he said. Mr Gray also claimed SNP ministers have relied on Conservative backing for their annual budget.

Meanwhile, the Greens have pledged to insulate every home in Scotland free of charge.

They said the 100 million-a-year scheme would mean savings of up to 340 each year on heating bills for the average household. Councillors Alison Johnstone and Steve Burgess, the party's top candidates for Lothian region, launched the pledge in Willowbrae.

• Murrayfield Churches Together and Murrayfield Community Council host a hustings for candidates in Edinburgh Central tonight at 7.30pm in Murrayfield Parish Church.

• Tomorrow, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland is staging Scotland's first online election debate on climate change from SCVO HQ from 7.30-9pm - www.stopclimatechaos.org/11/mar/climate-day-election-debate. Also tomorrow, Edinburgh City Roman Catholic Justice and Peace Group is holding a hustings at St Mary's RC Cathedral Hall, Little King Street, 7-8.45 pm.

• Leader of the Scottish Greens Patrick Harvey will be taking part in a live webchat on scotsman.com on Monday, April 18 at 12pm.

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