JOHN Swinney has ripped into Anas Sarwar's continued support for UK benefit cuts that more than 120 Labour MPs have now opposed.
Despite how 12 Scottish Labour MPs joined with others to sign an amendment against welfare cut plans, party leader Sarwar has continued to support Keir Starmer, telling the Holyrood Sources podcast on Wednesday "I support the principle of reform".
At First Minister's Questions, Swinney told the chamber Sarwar falling into line behind the Prime Minister was a sign he "would not be standing up for Scotland anytime soon".
In response to a question on inflation from SNP MSP Marie McNair, Swinney said: "The Scottish Government has taken a number of measures to address the cost of living challenges the public face – whether that’s investment in early learning and childcare, or the Scottish Child Payment which boosts household incomes for those in poverty, or the steps that we are taking to lift the two-child limit that should have been lifted as one of the first acts of the UK Labour Government."
He went on: "We face a new threat which is the benefit cuts agenda of the UK Labour Government.
"At a time when many, many Labour MPs are now saying these cuts are unacceptable, isn’t it just telling that Anas Sarwar is supporting the Prime Minister in implementing the benefit cuts.
"It demonstrates that Anas Sarwar won’t be standing up for Scotland any time soon."
Starmer and his deputy Angela Rayner have both insisted a vote will go ahead next week on the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, which seeks to cut back disability benefit payments by around £5 billion per year.
But given the level of opposition, there are now reports Number 10 is in talks with many MPs about possible changes to the bill in the hope of winning them over.
The BBC said one MP had described McSweeney's team as "boisterous young men" running around "like extras in The Thick of It".
At the centre of the row over the bill is the proposal to change the eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payments (PIP), with 800,000 disabled people set to be denied payments even if they struggle to wash or dress below the waist.
The bill would also limit the sickness-related element of Universal Credit.
The reasoned amendment argues that disabled people have not been properly consulted and further scrutiny of the changes is needed.
Elsewhere at FMQs, Swinney was forced to fend off criticism from both sides of the chamber on cancer waiting times.
The percentage of Scottish cancer patients receiving treatment within the target time is the lowest since records began, new figures show.
Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay said the SNP’s performance on cancer treatment is “not good enough” and that promises keep being broken, but Swinney pointed out that more patients are being treated compared with six years ago and that improvements are being found in the time that treatment is being delivered.
He said improving care is “at the heart of the government’s plans” and said a budget underspend from the previous financial year will be spent on improving public services, including NHS care.
Both Findlay and Sarwar raised the issue that Health Secretary Neil Gray was in Japan, but Swinney defended his minister who he said is promoting “Scotland’s life science sector to an international audience” at an event in Osaka.
