ANAS Sarwar has been criticised for “punishing” Scottish Labour MSPs for not “faithfully following his lead” after seemingly replacing a spokesperson for sharing calls for the UK Government to reverse the decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment.
Last Week Sarwar brought back Claire Bake, who previously defied him over the SNP Government’s gender recognition reforms in 2022, to replace fellow Fife MSP Alex Rowley as transport spokesperson.
Bake resigned as the party’s drugs spokesperson after breaking the whip by voting against a Bill which made it easier for trans people to legally change their gender – a Bill which Sarwar backed.
The long-standing MSP replaced Rowley on the Scottish Labour front bench last week after he retweeted a call for the UK Government to U-turn on the Winter Fuel Payment cut.
Rowley shared a post by Leeds East MP Richard Burgon who was interviewed by BBC News stating that Keir Starmer should listen to millions of pensioners and the wider public and accept he “got this one wrong”.
SNP MSP Jackie Dunbar said that Sarwar is now punishing those who are not following his lead and speaking out against the party.
She added that Scottish Labour can stand up to their Westminster bosses this week and oppose this decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment.
“The Labour Party's decision to take the Winter Fuel Payment away from 800,000 Scottish pensioners is utterly shameful, but instead of speaking out against this Anas Sarwar appears to be punishing Labour MSPs who aren't faithfully following his lead,” she said.
“Scottish Labour have an opportunity this week to finally stand up to their Westminster bosses and oppose this decision. Will they do the right thing or will they once again put party before country?”
Rowley is still listed as the transport spokesperson for Scottish Labour on the party’s website.
Earlier this week a union boss said Scottish Labour are “just as culpable as UK Labour” for the Winter Fuel Payment cut.
Unite the Union’s Scottish regional secretary Derek Thomson described the move to cut the payment as “shameful”.
He said: “It's a baffling decision for a new Government to make. My mother is apoplectic with rage. She voted Labour, now she's losing her Winter Fuel Payment.
“This is a lifeline for people over a cold winter. I find it shameful they have justified it as: 'tough decisions have to be made'. Well, they do, but this is the wrong decision at the wrong time.”
Scottish Labour have been approached for comment.
