Think of a Number - Any Number
The Labour party's mad claim that 'knife crime' costs the NHS £500 million every year - continues to unravel.
The madness was started by Scottish Labour's justice spokesperson - Richard Baker - but has since embroiled party leader - Iain Gray - and his 'de facto' deputy - Andy Kerr.
In Andy Kerr's case things have spiralled even further out of control - with a local election leaflet claiming that the NHS spent £3 billion a year - on treating knife crime victims in Scottish hospitals.
Now £3 billion is getting on for 10% of the Scottish Parliament's total annual budget - which illustrates just how crazy this whole business is - and Kerr's team has since been forced to withdraw the figure.
But the contagion continues as party leader - Iain Gray - sought to defend the £500 million a year claim in a Newsnight Scotland interview last night.
Today's newspapers bring more bad news as one of the original sources of the £500 million claim - stepped up to the plate and disowned the figure.
Dr Christine Goodall - a consultant surgeon from Medics Against Violence - told the Scotsman that she had no knowledge of the figure - "I don't know where Richard Baker got it from", she said.
Oh dear - someone needs to get a grip - and fast.
Because this relatively minor issue is beginning to make Labour's election campaign look completely ridiculous.
The madness was started by Scottish Labour's justice spokesperson - Richard Baker - but has since embroiled party leader - Iain Gray - and his 'de facto' deputy - Andy Kerr.
In Andy Kerr's case things have spiralled even further out of control - with a local election leaflet claiming that the NHS spent £3 billion a year - on treating knife crime victims in Scottish hospitals.
Now £3 billion is getting on for 10% of the Scottish Parliament's total annual budget - which illustrates just how crazy this whole business is - and Kerr's team has since been forced to withdraw the figure.
But the contagion continues as party leader - Iain Gray - sought to defend the £500 million a year claim in a Newsnight Scotland interview last night.
Today's newspapers bring more bad news as one of the original sources of the £500 million claim - stepped up to the plate and disowned the figure.
Dr Christine Goodall - a consultant surgeon from Medics Against Violence - told the Scotsman that she had no knowledge of the figure - "I don't know where Richard Baker got it from", she said.
Oh dear - someone needs to get a grip - and fast.
Because this relatively minor issue is beginning to make Labour's election campaign look completely ridiculous.
