NHS for pets suggestion sees Richard Leonard branded ‘barking mad’ over £150million a year idea
The Scottish Labour chief made the comments during a Kennel Club talk but aides later laughed them off
RICHARD Leonard has been branded “barking mad” after suggesting the idea of an NHS for pets.
The Scottish Labour chief said high medical bills for animals could be tackled by a “National Veterinary Service”.
But based on average annual vet bills and pet numbers, the cost could be £150million a year — for dogs and cats alone.
And a Scots Tory spokesman said: “This may sound nice but a Labour government would ruin the NHS for humans, let alone cater for pets. He’s clearly barking mad.”
Mr Leonard’s remarks came during a Q&A with The Kennel Club.
After being asked, “What dog welfare issues need tackling?”, he said: “The cost of access to veterinary services — solved by a national veterinary service.”
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But after The Scottish Sun inquired about the potential costs of the policy, Labour aides insisted he had only been joking.
The Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association estimate 14 per cent of Scotland’s households have a cat, and 24 per cent have a dog.
With average vet bills of £133 for a cat and £177 for a dog, this means Scots shell out £151million a year.
A Scottish Labour source laughed off the comments, joking: “The dogs in the street know we need a fairer country, run paw the many, not the few.”
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But an SNP spokesman said: “When £150million could pay for 5,000 more NHS nurses, voters will ask if Mr Leonard is fur real?”
We told last week how the Labour boss struggled to keep control of pet Copper on an assault course at Holyrood’s Dog of the Year contest.
christine.lavelle@the-sun.co.uk
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