The Labour Government has experienced “teething problems” during its first 100 days in power at Westminster, a senior party figure admitted.
Anas Sarwar said the months since the general election had been a “challenge” but insisted Keir Starmer and his team were “serious about doing the job”.
The Prime Minister and his Cabinet have faced repeated questions over accepting freebies from donors and lobbyists, while there has been an on-going backlash at the decision to make the winter fuel payment for over-65s means-tested.
Starmer’s chief of staff Sue Gray then resigned last week amid grumblings over how Downing Street was being managed.
Sarwar accepted the row over the winter fuel payment had “taken up a lot of attention” but pointed to other policies which were now progressing through the House of Commons.
October 12 will mark 100 days since Labour won power in what was its largest UK election win since 1997.
Sarwar was campaigning in Shotts today ahead of two by-elections for South Lanarkshire Council on Thursday.
Asked if he was proud of Keir Starmer’s premiership so far, he said: “As a former dentist, let’s call it teething problems. It’s been a challenge.
“I accept the challenge around the winter fuel payment is one that has taken up a lot of attention. But look the decisions the Government has made. We’ve got straight to work delivering GB Energy, which will be headquartered in Aberdeen, we are stage three of that legislation, so we are moving really quickly.
“We promised to introduce legislation within 100 days on a new deal for working people, and that will be introduced in Parliament this week.
“We are getting straight to work around scrapping the Rwanda scheme and having a fairer immigration system. All of that demonstrates a Government that is serious about doing the job.”
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