Anas Sarwar is facing mounting criticism after it emerged he has yet to challenge Westminster over Labour’s plans to slash billions from the welfare budget.
The cuts, first revealed in the UK Chancellor’s Spring Statement in March, amount to a staggering £4.8 billion reduction in welfare spending.
According to the UK government’s own analysis, this move could push an additional 250,000 people into relative poverty by 2029, including 50,000 children.
Despite the scale of the impact, no correspondence has been recorded between Mr Sarwar or Scottish Labour’s social justice spokesperson, Paul O’Kane, and the Chancellor about the cuts.
A Freedom of Information request to the Treasury confirmed that “no information” exists within the scope of such a request, suggesting no representations have been made on behalf of vulnerable Scots.
The silence has provoked a strong backlash from the SNP, who accuse Scottish Labour of falling into line with Westminster’s priorities.
Collette Stevenson MSP was among the first to speak out, saying Labour’s values are “completely out of sync with those of the people of Scotland”.
She accused the party of “adopting harmful Tory policies” and being “content to stay silent” as Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor, signs off on measures that threaten to take vital support from struggling households.
Ms Stevenson said the contrast with the SNP could not be starker.
She pointed to policies like the Scottish Child Payment and the SNP’s pledge to scrap the two-child benefit cap as evidence that the Scottish Government is leading the way on child poverty.
While the SNP insists it is acting to protect the most vulnerable, Ms Stevenson said Labour’s actions at Westminster are “holding back Scotland’s progress”.
She accused Anas Sarwar of lacking the courage to speak up, adding that “he will always stand up for the Prime Minister rather than stand up for vulnerable households in Scotland”.
With Westminster Labour staying quiet on the consequences of their own spending decisions, pressure is growing on Scottish Labour leaders to show they can and will speak up for Scotland.
For now, critics argue, their silence speaks volumes.
