The leader of the Scottish Lib Dems has said he is “warm” to the SNP Government reintroducing a universal winter fuel payment for older people in the Budget.
Alex-Cole-Hamilton backed the idea amid growing speculation First Minister John Swinney will try to outfox Labour by reversing their cuts to WFP.
He also said he believes Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s mistakes could cost Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar the Holyrood election.
The Labour Government has faced an angry backlash after means-testing a payment worth up to £300. Swinney is considering reversing the decision in his own Government’s Budget on December 4th.
He is lacking a partner to pass a Budget and reintroducing a universal payment could act as a sweetener.
The Lib Dems have held constructive talks with the Government but are still way off a deal. They want a national care service fully binned, an end to independence spending and more cash for health and education.
Speaking to the Record ahead of his party’s conference, Cole-Hamilton said of a universal WFP being part of the Budget: We would certainly be interested in seeing their plans because we do think it’s iniquitous.”
He added: “We would be warm to that. We would be open to that. It wouldn’t be the sole price for our support for the Budget, but it is certainly speaking our language on that particular issue.”
He said talks have been “moving in the right direction” but warned Swinney still has to “move mountains”. Despite his close friendship with Sarwar, Cole-Hamilton said the difficulties of the Labour Government are impacting Scottish Labour.
Asked if he believes Starmer is damaging the chances of Sarwar in winning the Holyrood election, he said: “I think the polling speaks to that.”
“Like me, a lot of people who were hoping for change from a Labour administration will be very disappointed by some of the early choices that Labour have made.
“They havn’t removed the two child cap. They’ve abolished the winter fuel allowance on hard up pensioners and done other things like employers’ national insurance.”
On whether the Prime Minister could cost Sarwar Bute House, he likened the situation to the collapse in fortunes of his party when ex Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg went into coalition with the Tories: “Yes, I think there is no question that the actions of parties in London can damage your fortunes in Scotland, irrespective of what you are doing at a Scottish parliamentary level. Lib Dems know that to our cost.”
He also said there are eighteen months to go before the election and Scots would remember the “abject” failure of the SNP when they voted.
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