The SNP has said Anas Sarwar “can’t hide” from a Labour Party conference vote on the Winter Fuel Payment today.
It comes as major trade unions line up to back a motion to reverse the Winter Fuel Payment cut with the Labour government braced for defeat.
A decision to stave off the vote was met with boos from the Liverpool conference hall on Monday – as delegates expressed their frustration at the party’s leadership.
Sharon Graham, Unite General Secretary, described the cut as a “cruel policy” as she called for Starmer to assure the country he isn’t pursuing “austerity 2.0”.
Ms Graham added that “this is the Labour Government who’ve come in to make change and the first thing they thought was a good idea is to pick the pockets of pensioners”.
With more than 880,000 Scottish pensioners set to be hit, a recent poll by Survation found a majority of Scots do not think the Labour government is “acting in the best interests of Scotland”.
The poll also found a majority of Scots oppose Labour’s cuts to winter fuel payments, and almost half of Labour voters in Scotland think Keir Starmer’s government has “failed to meet expectations”.
Commenting, SNP MP Dave Doogan said:
“If Anas Sarwar has any moral fibre, then he’ll back the vote against the Labour government’s winter fuel payment cuts – he can’t hide while his government picks the pockets of 880,000 Scottish pensioners.
“It’s shameful that Labour MPs in Scotland shafted their constituents by voting for these cuts at Westminster.
“Scottish winters are infamously harsh, yet they chose to rubber-stamp Keir Starmer’s cuts and force hard-pressed pensioners to choose between heating and eating.
“Voters in Scotland were promised change but instead Labour politicians are imposing austerity cuts on ordinary families, while lining their own pockets with more than £800,000 of freebies and donations, including designer gear, holidays and hospitality.
“It stinks.
“This conference vote is an opportunity for Anas Sarwar and his Labour MPs to finally do the right thing by backing the vote against these cuts.
“There is still time for the Labour government to U-turn and reinstate the winter fuel payment but it will only happen with pressure.
“Anas Sarwar once boasted he would stand up to Starmer but all he has done is roll over like a loyal lap dog at every opportunity.
“In contrast, the SNP will always put Scotland’s interests first.”
