SCOTTISH Labour leader Anas Sarwar claimed today that the party will deliver 160,000 more NHS appointments annually by closing tax loopholes.

Speaking on the first day of Scottish Labour’s annual conference, Mr Sarwar said that he would direct “every penny” of Scotland’s share of the £1.5 billion the Treasury is expected to net through the party’s plans to scrap the non-dom tax status to cut Scotland’s record NHS waiting lists — currently a staggering 830,000-strong.

Mr Sarwar told delegates that after 17 years of SNP government in Scotland “every single public institution has been left weaker” and pledged: “We will put fairness back at the heart of everything we do.

“That is why a Labour government will scrap the non-dom tax loophole.

“It means more money can be invested in nurses and consultants in our NHS.

“Right now, waiting times in Scotland are at a record level.

“Closing the non-dom tax loophole will deliver £134 million every year in Barnett funding for Scotland.

“Today, I commit a future Scottish Labour government to investing every penny of that in our NHS to increase capacity and drive down waiting lists.

“That will deliver the equivalent of 160,000 more NHS appointments every single year.

“That is what change means. That is why change matters.”

SNP convener of Holyrood’s health committee Clare Haughey said: “Scotland’s NHS is a public asset to be incredibly proud of, which has stood firm against years of cuts to Scotland’s budget from Westminster, a global pandemic and the effects of Brexit.

“Labour has absolutely no plans to address any of these issues: they are committed to Brexit, the continuation of devastating Tory cuts and holding the door wide open for the private sector.

“It’s clear they cannot be trusted with Scotland’s NHS.”