£150M WAR CHEST

Labour vows direct action on poverty | Westminster windfall sidesteps Holyrood

- PAUL HUTCHEON

A LABOUR government will hand new Scottish Secretary lan Murray a £150million war chest to combat poverty.

Murray, who is certain to lead the Scotland Office in a new Starmer government, will be given the levelling up cash to fund councils without Holyrood approval.

The money will be used to try to reverse 14 years of Tory austerity and tackle poverty across Scotland.

Speaking ahead of the UK. Labour manifesto launch today, Murray said: "Labour will reduce poverty by growing our economy and making work pay.

"This funding will help create jobs across the country and unlock opportunities across Scotland, especially in deprived communities who have been let down by the Tories and the SNP for too long."

Levelling up funding, currently under the control of Michael Gove's government department, was set up in the wake of the UK leaving the EU.

Billions of pounds have been awarded to projects across the UK since 2021, with round two worth £177million for Scotland. But the Labour manifesto, which will be published today by leader Keir Starmer, will back a major shake-up of the system.

More than £150million would be given directly to the Scotland Office, turning it into a proper spending department with financial clout.