Greens urge Anas Sarwar: No austerity under Labour

The Scottish Greens have urged Anas Sarwar to stand by his pre-election promise that there would be no systematic cuts to public spending under a Labour government.

Sarwar told a BBC Scotland leaders debate in June that the public should “read my lips: no austerity under Labour”. He was responding to First Minister John Swinney’s claim that a Conservative or Labour government would introduce £18bn of cuts.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been criticised in recent days for reportedly considering a further wave of cuts to public services, including to benefits for those with disabilities and health conditions.

Scottish Greens social justice spokesperson Maggie Chapman MSP warned that “it is people with the least who are paying the biggest price for this Labour government”.

She added: “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?”

Reeves has ruled out increasing borrowing or taxes in order to stick to her fiscal rules, and is now reportedly mulling over additional reductions on departmental spending.

Despite the government’s ambition for growth, confidence in the UK economy remains low. According to recently published data, the economy did not grow from July to September last year and shrunk in October.

Faced with tackling government debt, the chancellor issued tax rises and spending cuts worth £40bn in her October Budget.

The Scottish Greens are now calling for Sarwar to “take a stand” against any further UK Government cuts to public services.

The Scottish Labour leader has referred to his party as one of “change” and “hope”, as well as promising a “decade of national renewal” at September’s Labour party conference in Liverpool.

But Sarwar came under similar criticism when Labour controversially announced the decision to end winter fuel payments for pensioners in September.

Chapman said: “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.”