MSP would still be in my government despite slamming benefit cuts, says Sarwar

The Scottish Labour leader said his party was "absolutely united" despite many MSPs and MPs attacking the welfare reforms.

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Anas Sarwar has said one of his frontbench MSPs would still be in his government despite branding Labour's benefit cuts "austerity".

The Scottish Labour leader said his party was "absolutely united" despite many MSPs and MPs attacking the welfare reforms.

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Scottish Labour public health spokesperson Carol Mochan called the UK Government’s £5 billion cuts “austerity” and warned her party not to balance the books “on the back” of those most in need of help.

Sarwar said he supports the benefits overhaul, which he has denied amounted to “cuts” at all.

He said the welfare budget would still go up despite the changes to disability support, something he said was “the very opposite of austerity”.

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Asked on a trip to City of Glasgow College whether Mochan could face disciplinary action over the disagreement, Sarwar said: “Carol Mochan is a fantastic member of the Scottish Parliament, a fantastic advocate for the local community, and will be a fantastic minister in the Scottish Labour government.

“You’re asking about austerity. Austerity means that public spending goes down.

“Public spending is going up – the very opposite of austerity.”

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Mochan joins a growing number of Labour politicians speaking out against the changes.

Alloa and Grangemouth MP Brian Leishman also described the changes as “austerity”.

Former MSP Neil Findlay quit the party over the cuts, accusing Labour of having “lied” to the electorate.

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The Record also understands that several Scottish MPs raised concerns during meetings in Downing Street over the past couple of weeks.

Sarwar said: “My party is absolutely united on winning the last election, united on fixing the mess left by the Tories, united on winning the election next year and booting the SNP out of office and united in taking Scotland in a new direction.

“That unity is what won us the election last year and is going to win us the election next year.”

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Earlier during his visit, Sarwar said Labour was a “fantastically cohesive group”.

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