SNP MPs have been called on to reconsider their opposition to a windfall tax on big oil and gas companies.
Labour and the Lib Dems back a one-off windfall tax on the profits made by the rise in wholesale energy prices to help offset the steeply rising domestic bills expected this year.
Bernard Looney, the chief executive of BP, has described the energy giant as a “cash machine” after soaring oil and gas prices boosted profits.
But the move has been opposed by the UK Government and the SNP did not support it when the issue was debated at Westminster earlier this month.
Now Anas Sarwar has written to all Nationalist MPs to ask them to reconsider the plan.
The Scottish Labour leader said taxing the big companies would help support ordinary families left struggling with the cost of living crisis.
Sarwar said: "Families across Scotland are being failed by both the UK and the Scottish Governments as this cost of living crisis escalates.
"While people are counting every last penny to try and pay their bills, BP and Shell alone are making £44,000 profit every minute.
"SNP MPs claim to stand up for Scotland in Westminster – but when people needed them they sat on their hands, choosing to side with big oil and gas companies rather than struggling Scots.
"Meanwhile, in Holyrood the SNP government are have chosen to imitate the Tory’s pitiful support scheme while raising rail fares and water charges, instead of using their powers to help those who need it most.
"It is not too late to show some backbone and do what’s right by backing our plans, so that companies making billions from the crisis pay their fair share to help ease the pressure on households.
"The SNP must stop playing politics with people’s lives and work with us to fight for a package of support that truly helps those who need it most."
A spokeswoman for the SNP said: "The SNP has always been clear that those with the broadest shoulders should contribute the most.
"In this case, that is companies who are making increased profits from increasing gas prices or other pandemic effects, while ordinary people are struggling.
"We have also been clear that any such proposals must be fair and not create a situation whereby Scotland bears the brunt - it is for the UK Government, who holds responsibility for this, to put forward a plan, which SNP MPs will consider, taking into account what is best for Scotland.
"Labour cannot hide from the fact that even if every single Scottish MP voted to introduce such a measure, it still won’t happen because of the Tory majority at Westminster.
"Instead of wasting time playing politics over something we already agree on but that the SNP Scottish Government has no power to act on, Scottish Labour should be explaining why it is they would rather keep these powers in the hands of Boris Johnson and the Tories, rather than see them come to Scotland."
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