The SNP has accused Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar of relying on family money to support his political career, claiming almost £296,000 has flowed from relatives and associated businesses since 2010.
The attack comes ahead of Scottish Labour Party conference in Paisley and centres on donations and financial support linked to what critics describe as the bank of mum and dad.
According to figures highlighted by the SNP, £296,555 has either funded Sarwar directly or gone to the Scottish Labour Party over the past 16 years.
It is also claimed that £159,691 of that total came from family members and businesses connected to the Sarwar family.
Sarwar, who was privately educated and previously succeeded his father as an MP, has faced scrutiny in the past over his family’s business interests.
In 2017, his minority shareholding in United Wholesale was reported to be worth £4.8 million, although he later signed a discretionary trust deed preventing him from accessing those assets following controversy over pay within the firm.
He has also been questioned over donations linked to the Labour Together think tank and a £4,000 contribution in 2021 from a company owned by a convicted paedophile.
The SNP says the pattern raises concerns about the sources of funding behind his leadership.
George Adam MSP said:
“Anas Sarwar’s entire career has been funded by the bank of mum and dad at 42 years old, it’s long past time he stood on his own two feet.
“It’s time Anas Sarwar ruled out any more cash from his folks.
“A staggering £296,000 has been invested by the Sarwar family into Anas Sarwar’s career, but with polls showing a Labour Party facing an historic defeat, I hope they kept the receipts.
“At Scottish Labour Party conference on Friday, Anas Sarwar will be praying his tombola sales are through the roof because the reliance on his family fortunes is embarrassing.
“The fact is when he’s not getting dad’s cheque book to bankroll his campaigns, he’s taking dodgy donations from Labour Together, and money from convicted fraudsters and paedophiles.
“Ploughing election cash from dodgy Westminster sources won’t change how people feel about the Labour Party’s record and after his absurd attempt to usurp his own boss, his colleagues and family will be hoping he saves everyone a few quid and packs it in.”
Recent polling has suggested Scottish Labour support has fallen from 21 percent at the 2021 Scottish Election to 12 percent in a Find Out Now survey, which projected the party on course for its worst ever Holyrood result.
The criticism underscores the increasingly personal and financially focused tone of political debate as parties prepare for the next Scottish Parliament contest.
