PM says helping to bring down Labour in 1979 was ‘one useful thing SNP has done’

David Cameron has thanked the SNP for helping bring down Labour more than three decades ago.

The Prime Minister was responding to Labour’s Scottish deputy leader, Anas Sarwar, who referred to both the Conservatives and Nationalists walking through the same voting corridors in 1979 to bring down James Callaghan’s government. He also said the UK needed “liberation from right wing Tory economics”.

Mr Cameron attacked both his opponents at Westminster and the ruling party of Scotland in his response.

He said: “He (Mr Sarwar) has reminded me of the one useful thing that the SNP has done in their history, which was to get rid of that dreadful Labour government that nationalised half of British industry and made such a mess.”

SNP MP Pete Wishart slammed Labour’s refusal to implement devolution after the 1979 referendum, while also claiming an independent Scotland would not have voted in Mrs Thatcher.

He added: “It says it all that Scottish Labour prefer to talk about ancient history from 35 years ago but won’t talk about their alliance with the Tories in the No campaign today.”