SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has today demanded that Labour use next month’s UK Budget to U-turn on its austerity agenda and finally come good on its election promises of ‘change’ and ‘no austerity under Labour’.

Following a Holyrood debate setting out what Scotland seeks from the forthcoming UK Budget, SNP MSP Alasdair Allan called on Labour to reinstate the universal Winter Fuel Payment, reverse planned damaging cuts to public services, provide promised funding to tackle child poverty and finally scrap the cruel two-child benefit cap.

The SNP repeatedly warned about the scale of cuts likely to come should Labour be elected. Throughout the election campaign these claims were dismissed by senior Labour figures including Anas Sarwar who infamously said, “read my lips, no austerity under Labour”.

Since coming to power less than three months ago, these warnings have come to pass, with Labour already going back on their promises by doubling-down on the Tory austerity agenda.

Despite further claims from Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Sarwar in recent days that there “will be no return to austerity under Labour”, Starmer has already paved the way for further cuts to come in Labour’s first Budget – saying “things will get worse”.

SNP MSP Alasdair Allan said:

“Labour promised change but so far all they have delivered for Western Isles is change for the worse with broken promises and continued austerity, including cutting Winter Fuel Payments in the region with the highest levels of fuel poverty.

“Meanwhile Anas Sarwar has sat by in silence and proven he will always do as his London bosses tell him to do, instead of standing up for the people of Scotland. This is perhaps no surprise given Labour’s First Minister of Wales has admitted she has no real influence over Keir Starmer’s austerity agenda.

“It is not too late to act - they must change course starting in next month’s Budget by reinstating the universal Winter Fuel Payment, provide the funding they promised to tackle child poverty, scrap the abhorrent two-child cap and cancel plans to make further cuts to public services.

“With Labour MPs happy to vote through policies they previously spoke out against whilst in opposition, I will continue to stand up against further austerity being imposed on the Western Isles from Westminster.”