Renfrewshire Council is being urged to call out both the UK and Scottish governments over the means-testing of the winter fuel payment (WFP).
A motion is to be submitted at a meeting of the council next week that urges the local authority to condemn the “appalling” cuts.
Submitted by Councillor Alec Leishman – who represents Erskine and Inchinnan – the motion has been seconded by his Conservative party colleague, Renfrew North and Braehead councillor John Gray.
The motion calls on councillors of all parties to voice their opposition to the cuts following a failed Conservative bid to halt the policy in Westminster last week. Payment of the benefit is devolved to the Scottish Government – but it says it has no choice but to follow the UK Government’s lead as a result of a reduced financial package from the coffers down south related to the policy.
Councillor Leishman has asked members to back his calls to write to both governments urging them to reverse the cuts which will affect tens of thousands of pensioners not in receipt of pension credit across Renfrewshire.
Government data shows that 31,641 people in Renfrewshire were in receipt of the WFP last year while there were just 4,353 claiming pension credit.
If similar this year, then 86.2 per cent (27,288) of Renfrewshire’s pensioners will lose out on the payment.
Councillor Leishman’s motion also calls on efforts to be stepped up to promote the uptake of pension credit.
He says the cuts “betray” pensioners that he represents and many of them will now be left with a choice between heating and eating this winter.
Councillor Gray added that councillors of all parties “should do the right thing” and send a message that Renfrewshire Council is united against the cuts.
“I am proud to be bringing forward this motion for the Renfrewshire Conservatives who will always be on the side of pensioners,” said Councillor Leishman.
“The new UK Labour government and the SNP government have both betrayed pensioners that I represent with their cuts to winter fuel payments.
“There is a real risk that many across Renfrewshire will now be left with a choice between heating and eating this winter.
“I urge councillors of all parties to back my motion and stand in the face of these appalling cuts which will hit Renfrewshire’s pensioners hard.”
Councillor Gray added: “The U-turn by Labour on their previous pledge to keep winter fuel payments was disgraceful, as was the SNP’s decision to follow suit.
“This will have a devastating impact on pensioners across Renfrewshire and I am firmly opposed to these cuts.
“Councillors should do the right thing and send a powerful message to both the UK Labour government and SNP government that Renfrewshire Council is united against the axing of universal winter fuel payments.”
The motion will go before the council at a full meeting on Thursday, September 26.
Renfrewshire Labour MPs Johanna Baxter, Alison Taylor, Martin McCluskey and Blair McDougall all sided with the government in voting against the Tory motion that sought to scrap plans to limit WFPs to pensioners on pension credit only.
The government won the vote 348-228 with 72 MPs abstaining.
Conservatives now oppose scrapping the WFP but, in 2017, plans to means test it featured in the party’s manifesto ahead of that year’s election.
And in 2023, it was reported by Sky News that UK Government sources had claimed then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was looking at the possibility of cutting the payment to fund the pensions triple-lock but this was later denied by Downing Street following a backlash.
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