The SNP has challenged the Deputy Leader of Scottish Labour over the UK Labour government’s decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment after it was revealed she previously promised to fight to protect it, saying “the most vulnerable people in society should not have to prove they need support.”
In comments made in 2018, Jackie Baillie said the Winter Fuel Payment shouldn’t be means tested.
However, Scottish Labour appears to be backing fresh Labour cuts that would make the payment available only to those on certain benefits – a decision which Leader Anas Sarwar supports.
Announcing a fresh round of austerity cuts last week, Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that the Winter Fuel Payment will no longer be available to all those over the pension age, reducing the number of those eligible from 11.4 million to 1.5 million.
Commenting, SNP Depute Leader Keith Brown said:
“Labour’s empty promises of change are in tatters mere weeks after the election, and Jackie Baillie now has questions to answer over one of their most inexplicable decisions.
“As a consequence of the Labour Chancellor’s cut to the Winter Fuel Payment, millions of pensioners will now be faced with financial uncertainty and funding for the Scottish Government looks set to be reduced by £100 million.
“This is the impact of Labour austerity and is a decision that was opposed by the Deputy Leader of Scottish Labour in 2018.
“The question now is: will Jackie Baillie stand by her previous comments and Scottish pensioners, or will she join Anas Sarwar and back the UK Labour government’s decision to slash funding that keeps pensioners warm over winter?
“Pensioners across Scotland should not be forced to bear the brunt of yet more Westminster cuts, and I hope the Deputy Leader of Scottish Labour will join the SNP in opposing this cut.”
