ANAS SARWAR accused the SNP of abandoning workers and socialism in favour of cronyism as he addressed the Scottish Trades Union Congress in Dundee today.

The Scottish Labour leader made the remarks as he set out the party’s plans north of the border ahead of the coming general election.

Referring to the SNP-Green Scottish government’s recent decision to ditch £38 million of funding for its Fair Work in Social Care Scheme — a project aimed at improving pay, terms and conditions for some of Scotland’s lowest paid workers — he said: “The SNP decided to cut the fund, abandoning those workers.

“It’s just one more example of working people paying the financial price for the SNP’s financial chaos and incompetence.”

On the SNP’s opposition to the extension of a windfall tax on oil and gas profiteers, he said: “This isn’t socialism, this is cronyism!”

And on workers’ rights, he repeated Labour’s commitment to its New Deal for Workers, with measures such as ending zero-hours contracts.

“I expect our elected members to be on the side of working people across this country,” he said.

“My job — the Scottish Labour party’s job — is to always be on the side of working people.”

Mr Sarwar repeated his calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, but addressing delegates — many of whom are actively involved in solidarity for Palestine — he went a step further, calling for all sales of arms to be halted amid what he termed “clear breaches” of international law.

He told congress: “Every life is equal. Every Jewish, Muslim, and Christian life must be regarded as equal.

“Only when we treat every life as equal, will be we see peace and justice around the world.”