ANAS Sarwar has been accused of “rolling over” and failing to stand up for Scots after he backed Keir Starmer’s plans to cut billions of pounds in welfare funding.
On Tuesday, the Scottish Labour leader told BBC Scotland he believes that the Prime Minister is taking the “right approach” as the UK Government plans to save £5 billion by making austerity cuts to the welfare budget.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is set to unveil billions in cuts to welfare funding, by making it harder for people to get disability benefits and cutting the rate of Universal Credit for those deemed unfit to work, while also freezing PIP payments next year.
The SNP said it's clear Sarwar “can't be trusted to keep his promises or stand up for Scotland” following the news of him backing the proposed cuts, despite promising voters he would oppose austerity measures last year.
An SNP spokesperson added that Sarwar had failed to stand up to Starmer on a single issue and has “repeatedly backed Downing Street cuts”.
The SNP MP Dave Doogan (below) said Sarwar had “rolled over” every time Labour “swung the axe” and that “no one will take him seriously” if he won’t defend Scotland’s most vulnerable.
“It's clear Anas Sarwar can't be trusted to keep his promises or stand up for Scotland. By backing draconian cuts to disabled people, Mr Sarwar has shown his words are worthless,” he said.
“During the election, he promised voters he would oppose austerity cuts, and stand up to Keir Starmer, but instead he has rolled over every single time the Labour government swings the axe.
“The Labour Party is punching down on the poorest by taking money away from people with disabilities, which will push thousands of Scots into poverty and slash the Scottish Government's budget.
“No one will take Mr Sarwar seriously if he won't even defend the most vulnerable Scots from attacks by his Westminster bosses. It shows, yet again, Scottish Labour is just a branch office - there to do Westminster's bidding.”
The reported cuts have been heavily criticised by opposition parties and charities, who have argued it will have "catastrophic" consequences for people with disabilities and long-term health issues.
Sarwar told BBC Scotland: “It's clear that we have to get more people into work and we have to make sure that we have our public finances on a sustainable footing.”
However, Doogan said the welfare cuts which are expected to be announced later this month “isn't the change Scotland was promised” by Scottish Labour.
He said: “The truth is, we're all paying the price for the mess the Labour Party has made of the economy.
“Under Keir Starmer, families are paying higher energy and food bills, pensioners have lost their winter fuel payments, small business owners have been hit by National Insurance tax hikes, and now disabled people are losing vital support. This isn't the change Scotland was promised.”
The Scottish Labour leader told the BBC he would not be drawn on the “speculation” about specific welfare cuts.
However, he did add that he supported the “broader principle” that people should be encouraged into work to tackle a “ballooning” welfare bill.
