ANAS Sarwar has been accused of having “some gall” to claim he stands for workers’ rights over his party’s support for Brexit.
The Scottish Labour leader told an audience at an Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) meeting in Glasgow on “walkout Wednesday” – his was the party of workers and would “always support strikers on the picket lines”.
But his comments were slammed by opponents who said Labour’s belated support for leaving the EU and Keir Starmer’s pledge to “make Brexit work” was "damaging".
SNP MP Deidre Brock (above) said: “Anas Sarwar has some gall claiming this when the Labour Party’s just a pale imitation of the Tories these days.
“If Labour really wanted to support workers they’d stop damaging workers’ rights, pay and conditions by imposing Brexit, opposing the devolution of employment law, and denying democracy in Scotland.”
READ MORE: Police probe after 'methodical' destruction of Scottish tree planting project
It comes after Starmer last year instructed his shadow cabinet not to attend strikes, saying Labour would no longer be a “party of protest”.
He also said he had “nothing against Labour MPs and others expressing their support” for striking workers.
But Sam Tarry was sacked from his position as shadow local transport minister after appearing on a picket line last year. Labour high command insisted he was removed for having “made up policy on the hoof” in media appearances that had not been approved by party spin doctors.
Greens MSP Maggie Chapman (below), said: “The hypocrisy from the Westminster Labour leadership is staggering.
“Whether he is banning his colleagues from attending picket lines or parroting Tory lines on Brexit, Sir Keir Starmer has made clear that he can't be trusted to stand up for workers.
READ MORE: Who is on tonight's Question Time as panel show comes to Scotland
"You can't stand in solidarity when you are hiding. This week saw the biggest strikes for years, but Starmer and his colleagues were nowhere to be seen."
Scottish Labour and Green MSPs refused to go into Parliament on Wednesday in solidarity with members of the civil servants union PCS who were on strike.
SNP politicians, the Conservatives and LibDems all attended Holyrood.
At the STUC’s Right to Strike rally, also attended by SNP MP Amy Callaghan and the party’s Westminster chief Stephen Flynn, Sarwar said: “Let me be clear and unequivocal: Scottish Labour will always support strikers on the picket lines. We are the party of labour and we should never be afraid to reiterate that".
A Scottish Labour spokesperson said: "The SNP has some gall harkening on about workers' rights a mere day after their own party crossed picket lines and scheduled parliamentary business on a strike day.
"The SNP's behaviour this week shows that they are not serious about defending worker's rights, pay, or unions.
"While the SNP break picket lines, Labour are on the side of the workers."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel