SNP MSP Clare Adamson has blasted Scottish Labour’s hypocrisy following Anas Sarwar’s attempted u-turn on the UK Government’s cut to winter fuel payment.
In summer, Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that the UK Government was scrapping universal Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners – a decision which sees almost 900,000 pensioners across Scotland miss out on the £300 support payment this winter.
Despite backlash from across the political spectrum, Anas Sarwar defended the cuts. Only last month, a majority of Labour MSPs voted against an SNP motion calling for the UK government to reinstate the universal Winter Fuel Payment.
Ms Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, said:
““The Labour Government cut vital support for millions of pensioners this winter. They cut funding to Scotland for this payment to the tune of £100 million.
“When challenged, Labour MPs voted to defend the cut. And Labour MSPs did the same thing only last month in the Scottish Parliament.
“Now, with no indication of how it would he would fund it, Anas Sarwar has made a miraculous u-turn. Demanding that the Scottish Government shield pensioners from cuts made by his own party.
“It is a ludicrous position which exposes the rank hypocrisy of Scottish Labour; a party which promised to stand up to Keir Starmer.
“Instead, Scottish Labour are asking the SNP to stand up to Starmer for them.
“Labour has taken a nosedive in the polls and Anas Sarwar is hastily trying to cover himself having voted to defend the cut only last month.
“The Scottish Government is legally required to balance its budget. It does not have anything like the same flexibility or financial powers as the UK Government.
“This is the kind cynical move that puts people off politics. It will do nothing to help the pensioners missing out on financial support this winter because of Labour’s cuts.”
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