ANAS SARWAR has been warned his election pledge of “no austerity under Labour” has come back to bite him amid reports of a £20 billion black hole in public finances.

The Scottish Labour leader is facing criticism after he used a general election leaders’ debate to state: “Read my lips — no austerity under Labour.”

His comment came after SNP leader John Swinney said during the same debate Labour’s plans would lead to £18bn in cuts.

But on Monday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to unveil a public finances shortfall, which the SNP has warned could lead to cuts or tax increases.

Ahead of the Chancellor’s speech on Monday, SNP MP Dave Doogan said cuts and tax rises were “repeatedly dismissed” by the Scottish Labour leader.

In a letter to Mr Sarwar, he said: “That comment has rapidly come back to bite you. 

"The new Labour Chancellor has blown your election promises apart — so what are your lips saying now?”

He added: “People will rightly be concerned that Labour lips were prepared to promise the public one thing to win votes during the general election but are now saying the exact opposite within weeks of taking power.

“Alarm bells are now ringing that the Labour government’s plan to continue Tory cuts and public services will [starve Holyrood of the cash it needs] — just as we have seen with the failure to scrap the two-child benefit cap this week.

“I hope we can agree that Scotland’s public services cannot afford another five years of Westminster cuts.”

Scottish Labour has been asked for comment.