AN SNP MSP has accused Anas Sarwar of “insulting” the Scottish people ahead of his trip to Germany to discuss GB Energy.
He will meet with representatives of the publicly-owned energy firm EnBW, claiming the meeting will help “make sure that GB Energy is the success that we all want it to be”.
In a statement released ahead of the trip, Sarwar accused the SNP of having “held Scotland back” and said Scottish Labour’s energy plans centre on “four clear principles – more jobs, lower bills, energy security and climate leadership”.
READ MORE: Anas Sarwar heads to Germany to 'learn how to make GB Energy succeed'
However, despite repeatedly promising to cut energy bills during the General Election, since coming to power the Labour-run UK Government has actually overseen an increase in the average energy bill.
A new price cap introduced by energy regulator Ofgem will see the average household energy bill rise by £149 from October.
The SNP MSP Kevin Stewart accused Sarwar of “insulting the Scottish people with false promises”.
"Anas Sarwar has some brass neck mentioning lower bills and more jobs when his Labour government has actively caused the exact opposite of this to happen,” he said.
"Labour's extended windfall tax on North East energy companies has put jobs at risk – that is not the change that the people of Scotland were promised.
"Instead of insulting the people of Scotland with more false promises Anas Sarwar should try standing up to Sir Keir Starmer and backing the SNP in our campaign against further Westminster austerity."
It comes after the UK Government cut the Winter Fuel Payment for all but the poorest pensioners, with a recent studying finding that the decision will leave 85% of Scottish pensioners in poverty without the vital fund.
Although Sarwar and other Labour figures have publicly denied they will bring in austerity, Cabinet Secretaries have privately written to the Prime Minister raising concerns about the scale of spending cuts planned.
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