SNP Westminster candidate Osama Saeed has demanded an immediate apology from Mohammad Sarwar MP after he voted AGAINST a package of compensation for people who lost out after the UK Government 10p tax rate fiasco.

Official figures show 500,000 hard working Scottish households would lose out as a consequence of the move contained in the 2007 Budget – Gordon Brown’s last as Chancellor. The UK Government eventually bowed to pressure by the opposition parties – including the SNP – and backtracked on their decision and reinstated the lower tax band but many Scottish families lost out in the meantime as their tax bill rocketed.

Demands for the UK Government to provide compensation to all those who lost out in the House of Commons this week were defeated when Labour MPs, including Mr Sarwar voted against it.

Commenting, the SNP Glasgow Central Westminster candidate, Osama Saeed said: "Scrapping the 10p tax was an affront to fairness – it hit the very people who could least afford it with a huge tax hike.

"The SNP opposed this measure from the start and SNP MPs voted for the compensation package. Local people will be shocked that Mohammad Sarwar voted against it.

"The SNP is doing everything in its power to help people out through these tough economic times: freezing council tax, phasing out prescription charges and scrapping bridge tolls as well as driving down business rates for small businesses. Meanwhile, the Labour UK Government is inflicting shameful tax hikes on low paid workers and pensioners and is wasting billions of pounds on a new nuclear weapons system instead of investing in public services.

"A vote for the SNP at the forthcoming Westminster election will be a vote for a strong voice for our local community in parliament. The SNP will stand up to the UK Government and demand the best for the people of Scotland – we will not traipse through the lobbies and prop up policies like 10p tax.

"Together, we’ve got what it takes to weather this economic storm."