Labour has been accused of refusing to speak to the Scottish print media after ministers repeatedly ‘dodged’ journalists during visits.

Rebecca McCurdy, political correspondent at The Herald, has highlighted a series of examples of senior Labour politicians coming to Scotland and then refusing to speak to the Scottish press.

Wrote Rebecca: “10 months into the Labour administration, the examples of officials coming to Scotland and dodging journalists are mounting up.”

In an opinion piece, she singled out Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Chancellor Rachel Reeves for ignoring the press during recent visits.

Ms Rayner, pictured, had been campaigning with Davy Russell, Labour’s candidate in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election last Thursday.

Initially, the party informed the Scottish media they would have no access to the deputy PM, but later relented and allowed a short Q&A with selected broadcast media and PA.

Three weeks ago, Ms Reeves was in East Lothian on official business and an invitation to print journalists, including The Herald, was pulled hours before the event.

Officials claimed the Chancellor’s schedule had been unexpectedly “squeezed” and that she only had time to take questions from broadcasters.

Wrote Rebecca:  “It is not the first time a UK Government official has come to Scotland and refused to speak to print journalists. The problem is though, it was supposed to be different under Labour.

“There will be better relations with the Scottish press, we were enthusiastically told. And yet, 10 months into the Labour administration and the examples of officials coming to Scotland and dodging journalists are mounting up.

“Labour has told The Herald the press event in Hamilton was restricted because of time and space constraints.  Are senior Labour officials – and the UK Government, by extension – afraid to speak to the Scottish media?

“In the midst of a crucial by-election – I challenge them to prioritise the print journalists who are working as hard as broadcasters to cover the vote. We are on the ground in Hamilton every day. It’s time we were treated the same.”

The Herald’s Newsquest sister title, The National, decided it would turn up at the Hamilton campaign office and ask Ms Rayner some questions anyway.

Its reporter Xander Elliards wrote: “For posterity’s sake: the Deputy Prime Minister spoke to PA – who Labour had decided would question Rayner in place of all of Scotland’s print media (bar the Record) – for less than one minute.

“The National was then allowed two questions, which lasted slightly longer but saw Rayner say the same amount of nothing.

“The continuing message is clear: UK Labour have simply no time – and no respect – for Scotland’s print media.”