Angela Rayner has insisted the UK Government is being “straight” with Scots over the challenges involved in fixing the economy.
Speaking on a visit to Glasgow yesterday, the Deputy Prime Minister admitted there had been “frustration” over some of the “very difficult choices” Labour has taken since it won power at the general election.
In an interview with the Record, Rayner said it would “take longer than six months” to deliver the increase in living standards the party had promised.
And the MP predicted Anas Sarwar would become Scotland’s next First Minister despite Labour dropping further behind the SNP in recent polls.
Keir Starmer’s Government has faced a backlash over several big decisions in its first months in office, such as making the Winter Fuel Payment for older people means-tested.
Businesses have also complained about a forthcoming National Insurance hike which will see employers paying more.
The SNP has sought to capitalise on Labour’s rocky start by announcing it would offer all older Scots a payment for fuel bills from next winter.
But Rayner said such decisions at Holyrood were being made possible by the “record levels of money going into Scotland” from the UK Government.
And she said working people were already seeing the benefit of Labour in power.
She said: “We’re fixing the foundations with our employment rights bill. We’ve already had an impact on people’s wages through the National Minimum Wage.
“The work we’ve done in the first six months is not a quick fix, but a levelling with the public of the inheritance we had.”
Asked if she was concerned Scots were losing confidence in Labour’s ability to deliver, Rayner said: “No, I think Scots like to be told straight. They don’t want to hear about quick fixes or slogans. They want us to level with them.
“We know things are difficult. What we found, when we took office, was a £22 billion black hole. My department was running off reserves, for example.
“We had to fix that. But once we do that, we can start investing in public services, and see the growth we need for people’s living standards improving. That takes longer than six months.
“But it takes times after 14 years of the Conservatives, and 17 years of the SNP, which have really damaged our economy, and damaged opportunities for people.
“And that’s why we’ve said we’re not doing gimmicks, it’s a long term programme of fixing the foundations so we can build something better.”
Asked if the UK Government was to blame for Scottish Labour dropping in the polls, Rayner added: “I think the frustration is, like I say, we’ve had to make some very difficult choices. We’ve been very honest about that.”
The Deputy Prime Minister insisted growing numbers of Scots were fed-up with the SNP in power at Holyrood and were listening to the alternative offered by Anas Sarwar.
Rayner continued: “Anas fights hard for Scotland and he challenges, when he needs to, for Scotland. The Prime Minister says ‘country before party’. Well, Anas lives and breathes it.
“Regardless of what party is in power in the UK, Anas stands up for Scotland.”
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