The SNP has accused Labour of sidelining Scotland yet again after the Scottish Secretary failed to explain what the UK Government’s winter fuel payment U-turn means for the Scottish budget.
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray was interviewed on Good Morning Scotland but couldn’t say how much money Scotland would receive following the sudden shift in Labour’s policy.
The reversal, described as humiliating by critics, was announced without any prior consultation with the Scottish Government.
Scotland’s Social Justice Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville, confirmed that ministers in Edinburgh were left completely in the dark before Monday’s announcement.
She also revealed that no details had been provided about how the decision would affect Scotland’s budget via the Barnett formula, which calculates devolved funding from UK Government spending.
SNP MSP Collette Stevenson did not mince her words.
She described Labour’s handling of the situation as “embarrassing” and accused the party of refusing to admit its mistake or apologise to the pensioners it had confused and upset.
Stevenson said Scotland had once again been overlooked during a major policy decision that directly affects its citizens.
“This is a shambolic way to make policy,” she said.
“We are trying to run our own social security system, yet Westminster refuses to work with us, leaving Scotland in the dark.”
She called on Labour to immediately come clean about the financial implications for Scotland and urged the UK Government to use its upcoming spending review to abandon further austerity measures.
Stevenson also highlighted the need to scrap the bedroom tax, the two-child benefit cap and cuts to support for disabled people.
The row has re-energised a long-running debate over how decisions made in Westminster continue to have sweeping consequences for devolved governments.
For many in Holyrood, it’s a fresh example of Scotland being treated as an afterthought when major changes are made to UK-wide policy.
As winter approaches and household bills rise, the uncertainty surrounding funding for winter fuel payments will hit hardest for pensioners who rely on every penny to keep warm.
There is growing pressure on Labour to provide answers and ensure Scotland receives its fair share of the funding.
For now, however, the silence from Westminster continues.
