A SCOTTISH Labour MP has been branded "the invisible man" after he launched an attack on the SNP's record on living standards while the UK Government carried out major cuts to disability benefits.
Labour's Glasgow East MP John Grady told the Daily Record on Tuesday that the "SNP should focus less on fighting amongst themselves" in reference to the selection contest for the Holyrood 2026 elections.
Both former SNP MP David Linden and the party's national secretary Alex Kerr are seeking the party's selection for the Baillieston and Shettleston constituency, alongside councillors Laura Doherty and Greg Hepburn.
Grady called the contest "a civil war," and said: “The SNP should focus less on fighting amongst themselves and more on bringing down waiting lists and improving living standards for hard-working Scots".
His comments came as Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said that the Labour Government would cut Personal Independence Payments (PIP) by £5 billion per year by 2030, leading to widespread condemnation from charities.
Several Labour representatives have spoken out against the plans, with one former SNP MSP resigning from the party.
Now, one of the candidates has responded to his comments. Kerr, councillor for Baillieston, has written a letter to Grady saying he is "equally concerned about the attacks we have seen on the living standards" in his ward.
He wrote: "Thank you for raising your concerns about the living standards of those living in the area we both represent in your comments in the Daily Record. I am equally concerned about the attacks we have seen on the living standards of those in Baillieston Ward and across the East End of Glasgow from a decade of austerity policy from successive UK Governments.
"I am dismayed that a new UK Government promising change now appears to be making the same mistakes that have proven so disastrous to our communities over the past decade."
Kerr requested for Grady to respond on the following points:
- Will the programme of cuts and tightening of eligibility to disability support by the UK Government lead to an increase in living standards for our constituents?
- Has there been an equality impact assessment to the aforementioned changes and if so what was it's view on the impact of the changes?
- Was the decision by the UK Government to remove the Winter Fuel Payment an action that increased living standards for our constituents?
- Was there an equality impact assessment regarding the removal of the Winter Fuel Payment and if so what was it's view on the impact of the changes?
- Are you supportive of the Scottish Governments decision to mitigate the removal of the Winter Fuel Payment by the UK Government and is this decision in your view likely to improve the living standards of our constituents?
- What would you recognise as the definition of austerity in the context of public sector spending?
"I look forward to your response."
Commenting, Kerr said: “It was a shock to hear from John Grady MP, referred to as ‘the invisible man’ by many in the ward yesterday.
“I can perhaps understand why he is keen not to be seen too often in the community while his Government are removing the Winter Fuel Payment from pensioners in his constituency, continuing to impose the two child cap on families, taxing charities and small businesses and most recently taking away benefits from disabled citizens.
“If John is as committed to protecting the living standards of our constituents then he can prove it by voting against the cuts to benefits from the UK Labour Government and backing the mitigation being carried out on these cuts by John Swinney's Scottish Government.”
