SCOTTISH Labour have been accused of “hiding” and being “shamefully silent” following the growing revolt from UK cabinet ministers over the Chancellor’s planned austerity cuts in the next government budget.
Rachel Reeves is reportedly looking to raise up to £40 billion through tax hikes and spending cuts in her Autumn Budget which is due to be announced at the end of the month.
However, she has faced backlash from within her own party with some ministers unhappy at being asked to reduce spending by as much as 20%.
Keir Starmer now faces a growing revolt from his own cabinet ministers with Angela Rayner, Louise Haigh, Shabana Mahmood and Bridget Phillipson among those said to have written to the Prime Minister urging him to overrule the Chancellor and block the cuts.
The SNP have now called out Scottish Labour for remaining silent over the planned austerity cuts.
Members from Scottish Labour promised voters during the general election, that they would stand up to Starmer and defend Scotland's interests with Anas Sarwar saying during the campaign: “Read my lips: no austerity under Labour.”
SNP’s Dave Doogan (below) has written to Sarwar and to the Scottish Secretary Ian Murray asking if they are so “weak” that they will “simply roll over and rubber-stamp any decision from Downing Street”.
The MP for Angus and Perthshire Glens has urged the pair “to find the courage” to speak out against the cuts “before it is too late”.
He said: “Despite promising voters that you would stand up to your Westminster leaders and defend Scotland's interests, you have both remained silent and are nowhere to be seen.
“During the election, you promised voters ‘Read my lips: no austerity under Labour’. You accused the SNP of ‘spreading misinformation and lies’, making ‘ludicrous claims and attacks’ and ‘peddling mince’ when we warned the Labour government would impose billions of pounds of cuts.
“But now, when it really matters, your lips are shamefully silent. It's time to come out of hiding and end your shameful silence on the Chancellor's devastating austerity cuts - or you will prove that you cannot be trusted to stand up for Scotland.”
Doogan highlighted that Scottish Labour MPs already voted in favour of removing the winter fuel allowance from around 900,000 Scottish pensioners.
He also stated Scottish Labour MPs also voted in favour of keeping the two-child benefit cap despite Save the Children last year calculating scrapping the policy would be the “most cost-effective way to reduce child poverty”.
“It is very telling that now, with the Chancellor planning another £40billion of cuts and tax rises, there has been no sign, signal or statement of opposition from either of you,” Doogan said.
“People will conclude that either you support these cuts - or you are so weak that you will simply roll over and rubber-stamp any decision from Downing Street, no matter the cost to Scotland.
“I urge you to find the courage to speak out against these cuts before it is too late - otherwise you will share the blame when Scotland suffers the consequences.”
On Thursday it was revealed that Reeves is expected to commit to the previous Tory government’s plans to save £3bn by restricting access to sickness benefits which has been heavily criticised by opposition parties.
The full Autumn Budget is expected to be revealed on October 30.
Scottish Labour have been approached for comment.
