THE Scottish Greens have called on Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar to stick by his promise of “no austerity under Labour” to oppose reported attacks on social security from the Labour Government.
According to reports, chancellor Rachel Reeves is planning significant cuts to disability benefits managed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
The Scottish Greens and First Minister John Swinney have expressed alarm at the. potential move.
A prominent disability charity, meanwhile, has also issued a warning that the proposed reductions could lead to "disastrous consequences" for disabled individuals throughout the UK.
David Southgate, policy manager at Scope, a charity advocating for disability equality, said benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) serve as "a lifeline" for those with disabilities.
Swinney said the planned cuts are "deeply concerning", adding: "Any more Westminster austerity would push more people into poverty."
The Scottish Greens social justice spokesperson, Maggie Chapman, hit out at recent decisions made by Keir Starmer’s party including cutting Winter Fuel Payments, keeping the two child benefit cap and refusing compensation for WASPI women.
“It is people with the least who are paying the biggest price for this Labour Government,” the MSP said.
“Labour promised change but what they are offering is a continuation of the same cruel and unnecessary Tory policies that have already done so much damage. Now they are imposing cuts and policies that they have spent the last 14 years telling us they are against, with reports of far more to come. Is this what they meant when they campaigned for change?”
Chapman (above) then challenged Sarwar and Scottish Labour to take a stand against the proposed move.
“During the election Anas Sarwar could not have been clearer. He told us to ‘read his lips’ and promised that there would be no more austerity under Labour,” she said.
Chapman then asked: “Did he know what was coming or has he been taken for a fool by Keir Starmer?
“Anas Sarwar represents some of the most marginalised and deprived communities in our country. It is time for him to take a stand and make clear that Scottish Labour MPs were elected by promising an end to austerity and that they will not back further cuts.
“Austerity is a choice. By asking the wealthiest to pay a bit more we could lift the two child cap, bring back Winter Fuel Payments and do so much more to build the kind of fairer and better country that Labour is supposed to be committed to delivering.”
The MSP then pointed to research from the Tax Justice Network, which found that a 1% annual wealth tax on net assets over £10 million could raise almost £10 billion a year while only affecting the richest 0.4% of the population.
Chapman said: “A humane and supportive social security system can change lives. We have seen that with the Scottish Child Payment which has been one of the most important anti-poverty policies anywhere in Europe.
“That’s the kind of initiative we need to see from the UK government, rather than them constantly making us use very limited resources to offset and mitigate their cuts.
"With the powers of a normal country we could do so much more to end the years of cuts and austerity and lift children and families out of poverty.”
Scottish Labour Social Security spokesperson Paul O’Kane said “Labour has delivered the largest Scottish block grant in the history of devolution, boosting funding by £5.2 billion next year.
“Maths might not be the Greens’ strong suit - as evidenced by their short time in government - but even they can’t pretend this record funding settlement is austerity.
“Scottish Labour fully supports reinstating Winter Fuel Payments to create a fairer system for pensioners in need and lifting the two child cap – both of which are possible in Scotland thanks to Labour’s budget.
“Labour will continue to clean up the mess the Tories made of public finances, and here in Scotland Scottish Labour will continue to press the SNP government to use this transformative funding to deliver for the people of Scotland.”
