Scottish Labour has accused the SNP of “bloated bureaucracy” as Anas Sarwar pledged millions in emergency support to make life more affordable for Scots.

The Scottish Labour leader said that if international instability continues to affect the cost of living after the election, his party would deliver £100 million of support in its first 100 days in government.

This would include crisis loans for energy-intensive businesses, bulk-buying fuel to help drive down prices at the pumps, emergency grants or interest-free loans, action with supermarkets to cut the cost of staple items, and a national income maximisation drive.

Mr Sarwar also criticised the SNP for increasing taxes and pledged there would be no income tax rises under a Labour Scottish government for the next five years.

This election is a straight choice between more tax rises and more waste with John Swinney, or a Scottish Labour government focused on making life more affordable

Anas Sarwar

He said: “John Swinney has made his choice. He has chosen to raise taxes on working Scots and waste money on bloated bureaucracy while families are struggling to make ends meet.

“People are paying more and getting less, and after 20 years of SNP Government they are right to ask what they have to show for it.

“Leadership is about finding solutions to problems. All John Swinney does is point the finger somewhere else instead of coming up with a plan to help Scots struggling right now.”

Other Scottish Labour plans to make life more affordable include topping up tax-free childcare to £3,000 per child, funding two weeks of summer holiday clubs for children, and introducing breakfast clubs in every primary school.

The party would also widen eligibility for energy efficiency grants so 3,000 more older households can upgrade their homes, with rural grants worth £500 more.

It would aim to increase uptake of the Warm Home Discount so every eligible household gets £150 off their bills, and reduce tax for first-time buyers, saving them up to £1,100

Mr Sarwar continued: “I’m standing to fix the mess, get the basics right and build a better future for Scotland.

“That means practical help with the cost of living: lower childcare costs, help with energy bills, action on housing costs, no income tax rate rises for five years, and cutting government waste so more money goes to the priorities of working people.

“If this international instability continues, we will not sit back and let Scottish households and businesses pay the price. We will act with £100 million of emergency support in our first 100 days.

“This election is a straight choice between more tax rises and more waste with John Swinney, or a Scottish Labour government focused on making life more affordable.

“On May 7, vote Scottish Labour on both votes for the change Scotland needs.”

Alex Kerr, SNP candidate for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, however said: “Under John Swinney’s leadership, the SNP is resolutely focused on helping people with the cost of living as the price of essentials continues to soar under the Labour Party’s watch at Westminster.

“Not only do most people in Scotland pay less in tax than they would if they lived elsewhere in the UK, they also benefit from the best cost-of-living support package available anywhere on these isles – including free prescriptions, free university tuition, free bus travel for under-22s and over-60s, no peak rail fares and rail fares frozen for another year.

“But knowing that people are really struggling with the cost of living, we have set out bold and ambitious plans to go further.

“A re-elected SNP government will legislate to cap the cost of essential food items in supermarkets, deliver a £2 bus fare cap across the country and support families with childcare 52 weeks per year.

“That’s what you get with John Swinney and an SNP government on Scotland’s side, and that’s what’s on the ballot on May 7.”