THE SNP have said that Scottish Labour's "muddled" position on independence opens the door for "devastating austerity" from the Tories.
One of Scottish Labour's newest MSPs, Carol Mochan, who took a seat in Holyrood through the South Scotland regional list, warned that Scottish Labour could have faced "Liberal Democrat levels of annihilation" if it were not for the proportional voting system in place for Holyrood elections.
READ MORE: Anas Sarwar told to sort 'muddled’ independence stance by new Labour MSP
She also said that the party which once led the Scottish Government risks losing even more seats at future Scottish elections.
Scottish Labour recorded their worst performance at a Holyrood election, returning just 22 MSPs and winning just two constituency seats.
Tom Arthur, the SNP MP for Renfrewshire South, said that Scottish Labour sitting on the fence in regards to a second Scottish independence referendum cost them on polling day.
READ MORE: What is the regional list and how is your vote counted?
Arthur said: “After their worst ever performance in Holyrood elections, this is devastating for Labour and demonstrates how they continue to fall into deeper irrelevance in Scotland.
"Throughout the election campaign, Scottish Labour sat on the fence and refused to acknowledge that a majority of people in Scotland want to put their future into their own hands – not Boris Johnson's.
“And by doing so, Scottish Labour continues to alienate its own members - with recent polling showing that one-third of them back a post-pandemic referendum on Scotland's future.
“Labour's refusal to acknowledge Scotland’s right to choose our own future opens the door for the Tories to impose devastating austerity and callous policies on the people of Scotland, plunging thousands of families into poverty and putting vital public services and workers' rights at risk.
“The reality for Labour is that the people of Scotland have spoken and have sent an emphatic message that Scotland’s future should be in Scotland’s hands. Labour must recognise that if they are to have any chance of remaining relevant.”
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