KEIR Starmer has taken aim at both the SNP and the Tories ahead of a visit to Scotland.
The Labour leader claimed Scots have been failed by both the SNP Scottish Government and the Conservative UK Government, and that people are less likely to believe politics makes a difference as a result.
He also said a Labour government will “bring down energy bills for good”, as Ofgem said on Thursday bills will be £1,574 per year for a typical household on a default tariff from the start of July, meaning the average family will pay around £400 per annum more than a few years ago.
The comments come as Starmer is set to join Anas Sarwar (below) to launch the party’s General Election campaign on Friday.
Ahead of his visit, Starmer said: “After 14 years of Tory chaos, people across Scotland are desperate for change.
“Families are picking up the tab of 14 years of Tory energy failure and are expected to remain a staggering £400 a year worse off under the new price cap.
“We can’t just send a message in this election, we must send a government – but we can only do that if we rebuild trust and chart a new course for the country.
“The Labour Party is humbly asking for the opportunity to change the country. To serve the entire country. To be clear, there is no national renewal without a strong Scotland. There is no Labour without Scotland. There is no changed Britain without Scotland”.
He added: “A Labour government will take Scotland in a different direction and give people hope for the future. Labour will stop families paying over the odds for energy.
“Great British Energy, our new publicly-owned energy company, will invest in homegrown clean energy to boost energy independence and cut bills for good.
“When I say let’s get Britain’s future back, we say it with one voice. Scotland is at the beating heart of that mission.
“It’s time to stop the chaos, turn the page and start to rebuild with Labour.”
Sarwar, meanwhile, said Scotland is “crying out for change”, stating the SNP’s 17-year rule has been a “failure” and the Conservatives’ 14 years in power has been “chaos”.
Mr Sarwar said: “A UK Labour government with Scottish Labour MPs will boot the Tories out of office, maximise Scotland’s influence, bring down bills, make work pay and deliver the change that Scotland needs.”
The SNP and UK Conservative Party have been contacted for comment.
