Anas Sarwar pledges £100 million emergency energy support package

The party leader said he would not “sit back and let Scottish households and businesses pay the price” for the instability caused by the war in Iran.

It comes after First Minister John Swinney urged Downing Street to step in and alleviate the cost increases hitting consumers on energy bills and at petrol stations.

Speaking in Edinburgh on Tuesday, the SNP leader hit out at the US-Israeli offensive in the Gulf, which has seen oil prices spike.

Mr Sarwar said his emergency package would be triggered if volatility continues after the election.

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It would focus on practical emergency help, such as crisis loans for energy-intensive businesses to protect jobs, bulk buying fuel to help drive down prices at the pumps, and emergency grants or interest-free loans for households which are struggling.

Mr Sarwar said a Scottish Labour government would also convene a summit with supermarkets and other partners to drive down the cost of staple items and help protect family budgets in the face of continued instability.

Meanwhile, a “national income maximisation drive” would see civil servants redeployed to make sure people get the support they are entitled to but are currently missing out on, such as help with childcare costs, pension credit and other financial support.

The Scottish Labour leader said: “Everybody wants this war to end, but if the instability continues, we are not going to sit back and let Scottish households and businesses pay the price.

“Leadership is about finding solutions to problems. All John Swinney has done in the face of this crisis is point the finger somewhere else instead of coming up with a plan to help Scots struggling right now.

“Scottish Labour will not stand by and let Scottish businesses go to the wall, put Scottish jobs at risk, and force families to pay the price for the actions of the Iranian regime, Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu.

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“I’m standing to fix the mess, get the basics right and build a better future for Scotland. That means emergency action in our first 100 days if this crisis does not ease.

“We will provide crisis loans to protect jobs in businesses hit by rising costs, we will bulk buy fuel to help drive down prices at the pumps, and we will provide emergency grants or interest-free loans to households depending on their circumstances.

“We will also use the power of government to maximise people’s incomes, so families get the support they are entitled to and do not miss out on help at the very moment they need it most.

“Scotland needs a government that acts, not one that moans.”

Earlier this week, Mr Swinney warned the cost-of-living crisis will “get worse” as a result of US and Israeli action in Iran.

“My message today is very simple, and it’s a clear message to the United Kingdom government – my message is stop dithering,” he said.

The First Minister said the UK government should scrap its plans to increase fuel duty in September, along with scrapping VAT on energy bills.

Polls show the SNP on course to emerge as by far the largest party after the Holyrood election on May 7.