Sarwar urges city voters to send a message to SNP and Tories over cost-of-living crisis

ANAS Sarwar has urged Dundee voters to send the SNP and the Tories a message over the costof-living crisis in next month’s local elections.

The Scottish Labour chief visited the V&A museum in the city while on the campaign trail ahead of the May 5 council vote.

Mr Sarwar says his party has a “fantastic” set of candidates in Dundee and insists any elected councillors will “fight” for change in the city.

Labour has put the cost-ofliving emergency at the heart of its election manifesto, with analysis finding nearly one in four north-east households live in fuel poverty.

On what he believes matters to voters locally, Mr Sarwar said: “I can only go by the mood on the ground. The issues people are raising are very similar to other parts of the country around the cost-of-living crisis. They don’t think that either of their governments are doing enough to help them. It’s an opportunity to send a clear message.

“It feels like the SNP is running out of ideas and is growing more and more arrogant and out of touch in power. I’ve also had people talk about wasted money around individual projects and a general feel that after almost 15 years in government perhaps it’s time for a change.”

Labour is currently the second biggest party in Dundee behind the SNP and will be hoping to improve its seat share in the council ballot.

However, Mr Sarwar has repeatedly ruled out any formal coalitions at a local level, which means the party is unlikely to hold power in the city.

He said: “I think we have a real opportunity to change the way we do local democracy. What people are electing is a local champion that’s going to fight for your local community and not be pawns of

warning prices could rise even higher as a result.

As part of its local election manifesto, Scottish Labour has called for a “water rebate” of £100 to help Scots pay their bills.

Deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “Scottish households are facing the toughest cost-ofliving crisis in years. Faced with this crisis, the SNP and Tory governments have completely failed to act to protect family finances. While Nicola Sturgeon tours Scotland on her ‘cost-ofliving express’ bus, thousands of households are being landed with crippling water charges.

“With hundreds of millions of pounds languishing in Scottish Water’s cash stash, it is high time that this money was used to give Scots a £100 water rebate.”

SNP MSP Elena Whitham said: “The SNP Scottish Government has ensured that while UK-wide energy prices rise beyond inflation, the increase to water charges in Scotland for 202223 has been set at 4.2% – below inflation.

“In Scotland, the average water charges remain lower than the average in other parts of the UK – in 2021-22 the average charge in Scotland is £375, compared to £408 in Tory-run England and Labour-run Wales.”