STEPHEN Flynn has written to Anas Sarwar and Labour MPs urging them to “protect pensioners” and “defend Scotland’s Budget” ahead of a crunch vote in the House of Commons.
The SNP Westminster leader said in the letter the “Labour Government has broken its promises” to voters by imposing austerity cuts and increasing household energy bills, as he warned pensioners “will face a bitter winter” if cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment go ahead.
There will be a binding vote in the Commons on Tuesday on the Labour Government’s plan to axe the payment for all but the poorest pensioners.
Following the decision at Westminster, the Scottish Government said it had “no choice” but to restrict the payment north of the Border to “older people who receive relevant eligible benefits”.
Almost 30 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion from Labour MP Neil Duncan-Jordan calling for the Government to rethink making the Winter Fuel Payment means-tested including 11 Labour representatives.
In a BBC interview with Laura Kuenssberg on Sunday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer was confronted over the cuts, including by one Labour voter who said "I thought I might regret my vote within a year. I certainly didn't think I would regret it by the first decision made by the new government, to attack the pensioners".
READ MORE: Keir Starmer panned for 'have to be unpopular' claim
During the interview, Kuenssberg asked "when it comes to cutting the winter fuel allowance, that is a choice. How can you justify it to viewers who feel like it is an attack on some people who have worked hard all their lives?”
In response, Starmer defended the cuts, leading Kuenssberg to say "nobody thought they were voting for you to take away their winter fuel allowance".
In his letter to Sarwar and Scotland’s 37 Labour MPs, Flynn said: “During the UK General Election, the Labour Party promised voters in Scotland you would end austerity cuts and lower energy bills.
“Yet, within weeks, the Labour government has already broken its promises. Under Labour, energy bills are rising by 10% and the UK Government is imposing Tory austerity on steroids by slashing billions from public services.
“The Labour government doesn't need to wield the axe and make these cuts. It is a political choice, driven by your obsession with copying Tory fiscal rules. Up to 87% of pensioners in Scotland will lose out under Labour Government plans, including those on a low and modest income who are just above the pension credit threshold of £11,343 a year.
“This is not the 'change' people in Scotland were promised - and it breaks the personal pledge you made to voters during the election: ‘Read my lips: no austerity under Labour’.
READ MORE: BBC: Lorna Slater says it's 'hard to imagine' who'll back SNP Budget
“I urge you to do the right thing, protect Scottish pensioners and defend Scotland's budget by voting against Keir Starmer's Winter Fuel Payment cuts tomorrow.”
Research from the House of Commons Library shows more than 991,431 pensioners in Scotland received the payment in 2022-23.
There were 133,106 pensioners receiving pension credit or other means-tested benefits, meaning 87% will lose the payment.
To be eligible for Pension Credit, you must earn less than £11,343 a year - meaning thousands of pensioners on a low or modest income will be just above the threshold for the Winter Fuel Payment under the Labour Government's plans.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel