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Thursday, February 13, 2025

Sarwar Out of Touch as Labour Faces Austerity Backlash

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Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has been accused of living in denial as he insists there will be “no austerity under Labour,” despite clear signals from the UK Labour government that severe spending cuts are on the horizon.

Sarwar’s claims come in the same week that Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves refused to rule out “ruthless” cuts in the upcoming spending review, sparking criticism from opponents and concern among voters.

In an interview with The Scotsman, Sarwar attempted to downplay fears, suggesting further spending reductions wouldn’t amount to austerity, even as Westminster prepares to wield the axe on public services.

His remarks have drawn sharp criticism, with opponents highlighting Labour’s mixed messages and Sarwar’s lack of influence over his party’s UK leadership.

The beleaguered Labour leader also admitted that the actions of his colleagues at Westminster could be damaging his chances of becoming First Minister, as recent polls reveal widespread discontent with the UK Labour government in Scotland.

Adding to the pressure, Labour’s Scottish Secretary Ian Murray stirred controversy this week by blaming the public for Labour’s slide in the polls, further alienating many voters.

SNP MSP Rona Mackay was quick to seize on the turmoil, accusing Sarwar of being out of touch with both his party’s leadership in Westminster and the priorities of people in Scotland.

Mackay described Sarwar’s repeated claims of “no austerity” as laughable in light of the Prime Minister and Chancellor’s failure to rule out deep cuts, adding that the Labour leader seems increasingly detached from political reality.

She pointed to the SNP’s recent budget, led by Deputy First Minister John Swinney, which prioritised Scotland’s needs with record NHS investment and measures to counteract damaging Westminster policies.

The SNP has been working to shield Scots from the impact of controversial decisions by the UK Labour government, including mitigating the two-child benefit cap and reversing Labour’s scrapping of universal winter fuel payments for pensioners.

Mackay also called on Sarwar and Labour to take responsibility for their policies, including the highly unpopular decision to raise National Insurance, which has hit working families hard.

She challenged Sarwar to be honest with the public about the scale of cuts Labour plans to implement and the damage they could cause to essential services and vulnerable communities.

Critics argue that Sarwar’s promises of a fairer future under Labour are undermined by the actions of his Westminster colleagues, leaving him in a weakened position to lead Scotland.

With polls showing growing disillusionment with Labour’s performance at a UK level, questions remain over whether Sarwar can overcome these challenges and reconnect with voters.

As Westminster’s spending review looms, Labour’s rhetoric around austerity will likely face even greater scrutiny, and the spotlight on Sarwar’s leadership shows no sign of dimming.

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