KEIR Starmer has been warned his party is “doomed to irrelevance” if they continue to “deny democracy in Scotland”.

The SNP hit out at the Labour leader after he vowed to win back the party’s former heartlands in Scotland.

Starmer accused Nicola Sturgeon and Boris Johnson of stripping Scottish families of dignity after spending cuts.

The National:

Starmer told the Sunday Mail: “There is no route back for Labour without winning in Scotland – and nor should there be.

“This is a party that has been shaped by Scotland and I’m proud of our record in changing it for the better.

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"But that work isn’t done – together we can make Scotland stronger and fairer and that’s why I’m working so hard to win back people’s trust.

“Scots are being failed by two bad governments and this isn’t just headlines – it’s about living with dignity or living without it.”

Starmer criticised the Tories for the Universal Credit cut but also took aim at the SNP.

He continued: “But – and there is no running away from this for Nicola Sturgeon – the Scottish Parliament isn’t powerless and the SNP aren’t blameless in the handling of many of these crises.

“Just one example, power over Winter Fuel Payments was handed to the Scottish Government in 2016 but the SNP gave it back to the Tories. What does that tell you about the scale of their ambition for Scotland?

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“Meanwhile, Scottish Labour has called on the Scottish Government to deliver a £70 Winter Fuel Supplement for those most in need.

"And that’s part of my promise to Scotland – at Holyrood or Westminster, Labour will always work for solutions which make a difference, not talk about change and fail to deliver.”

The National:

The SNP hit back at the claims, saying the Labour leader should be “utterly embarrassed”.

An SNP spokesperson said: “Labour are doomed to irrelevance for as long as they continue to side with the Tories in denying democracy in Scotland.

"Keir Starmer should be utterly embarrassed by his willingness to join forces with the Conservatives in their Trump-like bid to defy the cast-iron democratic mandate delivered by the people of Scotland for an independence referendum.

"Scottish Labour would rather ignore the people of Scotland and subject them to further heartless Tory austerity policies and a damaging Brexit pursuit under Westminster control.

“Only five months ago, the people of Scotland had their say on our record in government – and our ambitious plans to lead Scotland through the pandemic and into a sustainable recovery. The SNP recorded its highest ever share of the constituency vote, while Labour slumped to its worst ever result."