Anas Sarwar is under growing pressure after being accused of turning his back on disabled people in the face of Labour’s austerity plans.
The Scottish Labour leader has come under fire from the SNP and across the political spectrum as more than 30 Labour MPs in England and Wales speak out against cuts to disability benefits.
Critics say Sarwar has remained silent while Westminster plans go ahead that will push 250,000 disabled people into poverty, including 50,000 children.
The SNP’s Pete Wishart said Sarwar has failed a basic test of leadership and cannot be trusted to stand up for Scotland.
During the election campaign, Sarwar pledged “no austerity under Labour” and promised to challenge Keir Starmer if needed.
Since then, he has refused to speak out against cuts to disability payments, the two child benefit cap, and the government’s failure to compensate WASPI women.
Only one Scottish Labour MP, Brian Leishman, has condemned the cuts, calling them “awful” and confirming he will vote against them.
In contrast, Labour MPs across the UK have issued damning statements rejecting the government’s plans.
Liverpool MP Kim Johnson warned that “austerity 2.0 is back” while Debbie Abrahams, Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, said there are more compassionate alternatives.
Welsh Labour MP Steve Witherden said the changes would lead to “more suffering” and called for the wealthy to pay more instead.
Veteran MP Diane Abbott said she did not enter politics to make the poorest poorer.
Blackpool MP Chris Webb warned the measures would “deepen the struggles” of vulnerable families.
York MP Rachel Maskell said she would not support anything that pushed people further into poverty.
Corby MP Lee Baron echoed those sentiments, saying he didn’t enter politics to “impoverish people”.
Several MPs including John McDonnell, Ian Lavery, Jon Trickett, Zarah Sultana and Richard Burgon confirmed they would vote against the cuts.
The SNP said Sarwar’s silence proves he is unwilling or unable to defend Scots from damaging decisions made at Westminster.
Wishart said Sarwar’s failure to stand up to Starmer was “shameful and weak” and shows he has broken his promises to the electorate.
He added that voters in Scotland are right to feel betrayed by Scottish Labour’s continued failure to challenge the party leadership.
He warned the cuts show why Scotland needs a strong and compassionate SNP government to protect families from Westminster decisions.
The SNP says Labour’s broken promises now stretch across multiple issues including benefits, women’s pensions, fuel support and energy jobs.
Wishart concluded that Sarwar “likes to boast he’s ready to be First Minister” but “has failed the most basic requirement – standing up for Scotland”.
The warning comes just months before the Scottish Parliament election, with pressure mounting on Labour to clarify its position on benefit reforms.
