SCOTTISH Labour are “fracturing” amid internal rows over the two-child benefit cap, the SNP have said.
It comes after Rutherglen councillor Martin Lennon accused his Labour colleague Michael Shanks of being a liar.
Shanks – who represents Rutherglen at Westminster and is a UK Government Energy Minister – had claimed before his election in 2023 that he would vote against Keir Starmer on key issues where Scottish Labour policy differed from UK Labour policy.
However, in a vote on the two-child benefits cap held on Tuesday, Shanks fell into line behind Starmer. Seven Labour MPs who did not were suspended from the party.
Richard Leonard, the former Scottish Labour leader, said the suspensions were “an excessive and unwarranted reaction by the leadership that makes the Labour Party look uncaring”.
On social media, one user wrote: “Hi @mgshanks, seems to be a mistake here mate.
“It says in August that you said you'd vote against the two-child cap, but I don't see you amongst the suspended MPs.”
Responding, councillor Lennon wrote: “The selection in Rutherglen was [stitched] up for @mgshanks specifically *because* he would do this.
“Starmer wanted someone who'd lie proudly and then do as he's told. That's what he got.”
The selection in Rutherglen was sticjed up for @mgshanks specifically *because* he would do this. Starmer wanted someone who'd lie proudly and then do as he's told. That's what he got. https://t.co/A8oJyNansG
— Martin Lennon 🌹 (@M4rtinLennon) July 24, 2024
Shanks, and every other Scottish Labour MP, backed keeping the two-child benefits cap in place despite their group’s nominal leadership insisting they oppose the policy.
Scottish Labour group leader Anas Sarwar had said just two weeks before the vote that the benefits cap – which prevents families from claiming for third or subsequent children unless specific conditions are met – is “wrong [and] needs to be reversed”.
SNP MSP Clare Haughey accused Labour of “fracturing” over the two-child benefits cap.
Haughey said: "This week the SNP made clear that our priority is to eradicate child poverty – unfortunately Keir Starmer’s Labour party made it clear that they don’t share our ambition.
"Scotland’s new Labour MPs voting to keep the two-child cap that pushes thousands of kids into poverty was shameful and now, just weeks after the election, their party is fracturing over the issue.
“The silence from Anas Sarwar shows that he is losing control after every one of his MPs in Westminster defied his position.
"In Government the SNP is delivering real change, keeping 100,000 children out of poverty this year through policies such as the Scottish Child Payment – it is time the Labour Party matched our ambition.
"Sarwar needs to get a grip of his party and ensure they stop serving Starmer and start serving Scotland."
Labour were approached for comment.
