The SNP has called Anas Sarwar “spineless” for his refusal to condemn Keir Starmer’s choice to scrap the universal Winter Fuel Payment and said that he is “powerless” in standing up to the Labour leadership’s cuts-agenda, as a Welsh Labour Minister criticised the decision.
Welsh Social Justice Secretary Jane Hutt warned this week that the decision “risked pushing pensioners into fuel poverty”.
Meanwhile in Scotland, Sarwar and his deputy Jackie Baillie, who previously spoke in support of the universal payment, have refused to criticise Labour’s decision to scrap the policy.
With news of a 10% hike in the energy price cap from October, pensioners face the alarming prospect of being up to £500 worse off this winter under a Labour government which repeatedly promised ‘change’ throughout the election campaign but has so far only delivered yet more austerity-led cuts and rising bills.
SNP Depute Leader, Keith Brown said:
“At least someone in the Labour party still has the backbone to speak out against the cuts-agenda being driven by Keir Starmer’s government.
“Despite election promises, Labour has made the political choice to continue with Tory austerity – hitting the most vulnerable in our society hardest by scrapping the universal Winter Fuel Payment and refusing to get rid of the cruel two-child benefit cap.
“Anas Sarwar, and his deputy Jackie Baillie, who previously said she would fight to protect the universal payment, have been spineless in their refusal to criticise the decision.
“Labour in Scotland are willing to rollover and go along with whatever their London bosses tell them.
“Despite his election rhetoric, Sarwar is clearly powerless to stand up to yet more austerity and cuts to benefits and public services.
“It should never be the case that pensioners in a country as energy-rich as Scotland are forced to bear the brunt of spending decisions taken at Westminster.”
