LABOUR UK government plans to slash £5 billion in spending to promote welfare demonstrates “disrespect” for devolution, according to the Scottish National Party today.

The woman in charge of Social Security Scotland (SSS) – Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville –  said changes to the personal independence payment (PIP) announced by her UK counterpart Liz Kendall on Tuesday would not directly affect those in receipt of its Scottish equivalent, the adult disability payment (ADP).

Ms Somerville however warned the overall impact could be “really quite severe,” citing calculations by the Fraser of Allander Institute, which point to cuts to the Scottish budget of between £90-115 million for every billion slashed from Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spending.

Slamming a lack of consultation on the plans, SNP Scotland Office spokesman Stephen Gethins MP told BBC Radio Scotland: “It talks to the disrespect for devolution.

“They should have been engaging with Scottish ministers.”

Earlier on the same programme, UK work and pensions minister Alison McGovern was reminded of Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar’s comments during the general election, when he said: “Read my lips: No austerity under Labour.”

Challenged on whether the social secutiry cuts made a liar of him, Ms McGovern stated: “Anas was right.

“We have set out in our budget funding for the NHS, the biggest settlement for Scotland since the inception of devolution.

“We have to make sure that the welfare state is sustainable.”

Ms McGovern’s view was not held by former Labour MSP Neil Findlay – who resigned his party membership this morning in disgust at the plans – by serving MSPs Monica Lennon, Mercedes Villalba, Carol Mochan and Richard Leonard, or by Alloa and Grangemouth Labour MP Brian Leishman.

Calling on Mr Sarwar – who had called the plans “fair” – to “find a backbone” and join them, SNP MSP George Adam commented: “The senior Labour figures who have called out this decision – some of whom have ditched their Labour membership – reflect what so many are feeling about Labour’s vacuous values.

“This decision will be a hammer-blow to the hundreds of thousands of people who rely on social security support and will impact the funding available for social security in Scotland.

“Anas Sarwar needs to come clean — will he back these cuts or will he join the SNP to stand up for Scotland’s most vulnerable, who will be hit hardest by them?”