A Scottish Labour rebel has said there is “no moral case” for the UK Government means-testing the Winter Fuel Payment. Richard Leonard spoke out against the “socially unjust” decision on the day after he defied his leader Anas Sarwar by voting with the SNP.
Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves caused anger after she announced a universal WFP would be replaced with a targeted system. Millions of older people across the UK will lose up to £300 and up to 900,000 Scots will be hit.
Holyrood voted on Tuesday for the policy to be scrapped, but Scottish Labour backed Reeves and urged the SNP Government to fund a devolved alternative.
Leonard, who used to lead Scottish Labour, broke the whip alongside fellow MSP Alex Rowley.
He said: “I voted to keep the winter fuel allowance because for me the principle of providing universal support to our pensioners is unyielding. This was the first time I had ever voted with the government against the Labour whip. I did not do it lightly and I do not support the SNP’s position on means testing.
He added: “Giving the winter fuel payment to everyone is the only way to guarantee that everyone who needs it will get it. We know that the oldest pensioners are the poorest pensioners, many of them women denied access to occupational pensions and on low basic state pensions. There is no moral case for ending this payment, it is socially unjust, and the economic case does not stack up. The policy is wrong and should be reversed.”
Five other Labour MSPs – Monica Lennon, Carol Mochan, Pauline McNeill, Rhoda Grant and Katy Clark – did not vote.
Labour insiders say the WFP cuts are hitting the party hard in the polls and on the doorsteps. A senior insider told the Record that two council by-election losses were caused by Reeves’ decision.
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