The SNP has demanded Scottish Labour MPs apologise in the House of Commons for voting to cut the Winter Fuel Payment. Having initially supported making the benefit means-tested, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said he would reverse the cut if his party wins the 2026 Holyrood election.
Since then SNP First Minister John Swinney has announced the Scottish Government would reinstate the benefit in part from next year. SNP deputy Westminster leader Pete Wishart said the Scottish Labour MPs who voted against a motion to stop the payment being cut should apologise in the House of Commons and ask the Speaker to change their votes.
Wishart said: “The SNP Scottish Government cleaned up Labour’s mess and reinstated the Winter Fuel Payment, so now Labour MPs from Scotland should apologise for having voted to rob 900,000 Scottish pensioners of support this winter. That complete and utter betrayal won’t be forgotten by Scottish voters and it’s all because chancer Anas Sarwar is too feart to stand up to Starmer and too spineless to stand by his own decisions.
“Voters saw right through that scam which showed up Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour for what they are – complete swindlers who think they can take the Scottish people for a ride. Next week Scottish Labour can back the SNP budget and back the Winter Fuel Payment, anything less will demonstrate just how low they will plunge to defend Sir Keir Starmer.
“Temperatures have dipped well below freezing in Scotland and while SNP MPs voted to protect Scottish households, Labour MPs from Scotland skipped through the voting lobbies to consign Scottish pensioners to a bleak winter. It’s time they came to the Chamber, apologised and pled with the Speaker to retract their vote.”
Scottish Labour Social Justice spokesperson Paul O’Kane said: “Winter fuel payment is a devolved benefit and Scottish Labour supports an increase but it will take more than one payment to paper over the cracks created by 17 years of SNP failure.
“The UK Labour government delivered a record Budget settlement for Scotland including £41million in consequentials from the Household Support Fund. In Northern Ireland the Executive is passing this on as £100 winter fuel payments yet the SNP is doing nothing for pensioners this winter.
“Year after year SNP financial chaos and waste has hurt the worst off – we need a comprehensive plan to tackle poverty across the board, as well as renewing our overstretched public services and kickstarting economic growth.
“The UK Labour government has make this kind of transformative budget possible by delivering record levels of funding for Scotland – the SNP must not squander the opportunity.”
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