Swinney's Debate Ditch: SNP's Mairi McAllan Steps In

0:00On April 22nd, Scotland's first minister John Swinney is facing backlash for ditching a key leader's debate on BBC Question Time. He pulled out because no women are leading the major parties except the Scottish Greens, Gillian Mackay. Swinney called it a bad look for just guys chatting politics ahead of the May 7th Holy Root election. He's sending 33-year-old Sin P. Housing Secretary Mary McCallan in his place for the Aberdeen Show tomorrow. Every other party, from Labour to Conservatives, is putting their actual leader on stage to hash out the big issues. Opponents are calling him out for running scared. Scottish Labour Deputy Leader Jackie Bailey says, Swinney's dodging a real grilling on the NHS meltdown, slipping school standards and climbing crime. Rates under a SNP rule. Earlier this week, though, Swinney jumped into an all-male BBC Scotland debate with six party leaders, no problem. Critics see that as proof he's cherry picking his spots to avoid heat on his government's track record. Swinney defends it as a chance to spotlight SNP talent like McCallan,

1:05insisting he'll hit plenty more debates without showing up to everyone. Expect her to bring that fresh energy to the table.