Labour and the SNP are today exchanging accusations of making cutbacks that are failing the Scottish people.

Anas Sarwar says the SNP government is guilty of financial mismanagement by pushing up income tax and rail fares while overseeing cuts to council budgets.

The SNP’s depute leader Keith Brown says Labour must share some of the culpability for the state of the UK economy and noted that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was today confirming that cutbacks are on the agenda.

Sir Keir told a gathering at Downing Street this morning that October’s Budget “is going to be painful” as he tackled a £22 billion black hole left by the Conservative government.

His comments on cuts to come, and the possibility of tax hikes for the better off have met with some discomfort among his own backbenchers who fear a voter backlash after promising a change of direction for the country. Instead they are getting more of the same.

Mr Sarwar says the problems facing the Westminster government are no excuse for the SNP’s own record of handling of the economy and public finances.

“For too long the SNP has forced working Scots to foot the bill for government failure,” he said.

“As families struggle to make ends meet during a cost of living crisis, they shouldn’t have to deal with the added cost of SNP incompetence. Taxes keep spiralling while services crumble, but we cannot keep paying more and getting less in return.

“The current budget crisis is the result of years of economic decline and financial mismanagement by the SNP government.

“The SNP must drop the excuses and spin and take responsibility for fixing the mess it has made of public finances.”

Shona Robison, the Finance Secretary, said last week that more cuts would be required following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ review and the pressure to meet public sector pay deals.

Ms Robison will deliver a financial statement to parliament next month outlining how the budget overspend will be tackled.

The government has already written to councils asking them to use £5 million intended for the nature restoration fund to cover local authority pay awards. Peak rail fares will return following a pilot scheme to subsidise travellers. Winter fuel payments will be means tested. There is now talk of scaling back universal free prescriptions and free school meals.

Stephen Flynn, the party’s Westminster leader, has admitted in a newspaper column today that his party has “failed” to deliver hope and optimism to the people of Scotland in recent years.

Speaking before the SNP’s annual conference in Edinburgh this week, the Aberdeen South MP said: “The trust that drove the SNP to unprecedented heights has gradually eroded. That’s a burden we all must share and accept irrespective of our role in it.”

The SNP’s depute leader Keith Brown says Labour must share some of the culpability for the state of the UK economy, as the Prime Minister prepares to lay the groundwork for more austerity measures.

The SNP points out that, while in opposition, Labour backed many Tory policies such as Brexit and years of public spending cuts.

During the election Labour repeatedly denied it would be forced to make spending cuts, despite warnings from the SNP and independent think tanks such as the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

Mr Brown said: “The Tory government have left behind an incredible mess – but Labour must share some of the culpability for the situation the UK now finds itself in.

“Keir Starmer cannot just wipe away the fact that, during the long years of Tory rule, Labour refused to stand up to them on some of the most damaging policies.”

Sir Keir said this weekend that the Labour government at Westminster would take a decade to turn around Britain and that “things will get worse before they get better”.

This morning he addressed a 50-strong audience of apprentices, teachers, nurses, small business owners and firefighters in the Rose Garden of Downing Street with the promise that his government will serve them “to root out 14 years of rot and reverse a decade of decline.”

Ahead of the return of MPs to the Commons, he said: “The business of politics will resume, but it will not be business as usual.

“Because we can’t go on like this anymore. No more politics of performance, papering over the cracks, or division and distraction. Things are being done differently now.

“When I stood on the steps of Downing Street two months ago, I promised this government would serve people like you: apprentices, teachers, nurses, small business owners, firefighters – those serving the community and the country every day. I promised that we would get a grip on the problems we face, and that we would be judged by our actions, not by our words.

“We will do the hard work needed to root out 14 years of rot and reverse a decade of decline.

“We’ll fix the foundations, protecting taxpayers’ money and people’s living standards. We’ll reform our planning system to build the new homes we need.

“We’ll level up workers’ rights so people have security, dignity and respect. We’ll strengthen our border security. We’ll crack down on crime. We’ll transform public transport. And we’ll give our children the opportunities they need to succeed.”

Comment: Honest John facing a few home truths