RICHARD LEONARD has called on Scottish voters to think beyond constitutional matters as election day looms.

Speaking during a visit to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh, the Scottish Labour leader reinforced the message that this week’s election “is not just about Brexit” by focusing on investment in public services and the NHS.

Labour has previously promised that £100 billion will be invested north of the border under a Corbyn government, which Mr Leonard has said will contribute to the recruitment of more doctors.

He said: “We will invest an additional £2bn a year in the NHS in Scotland and that will lead to a significant increase in support so we can fill those GP vacancies – the consultant vacancies which are across Scotland will be filled.

“It means that we can start to look at what we can do to expand the NHS, instead of it being constantly under pressure.”

As well as criticising the Tories’ approach to the general election, Mr Leonard also said that the SNP was focusing too much on its demand for a second independence referendum.

He urged the public to back a party that they would like to see in government for five years rather than one whose proposals centre on Scottish secession and retaining EU membership.

The Scottish Labour leader said: “In the end, the choice that people have to make is: Do they want a Tory government re-elected for five more years of austerity, a squeeze on living standards and a rolling back of investment in public services?

“Or do they want a Labour government that will invest in the NHS, start to build houses again, turn back austerity and start to rebuild our economy?”