THE SNP has issued a new year challenge to Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar to stand with Scotland’s pensioners or “continue to stand up for the Prime Minister.”

The Scottish government is pressing against the apparent split in Labour leaderships at Westminister and Scottish levels on the Labour government’s controversial decision not to compensate Waspi women.

A fortnight ago, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall announced that the government accepted Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Rebecca Hilsenrath’s conclusion that women born in the 1950s had suffered “maladministration” by the department as changes to pension age were accelerated.