A LABOUR MSP who defied the party whip to demand the UK Government reverse its “unjust” cut to pensioners’ fuel support payments has spoken out.
Former Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said he had never before defied the party whip to vote with the Scottish Government – but said his support for the universal Winter Fuel Payment was “unyielding”.
He was one of only two Scottish Labour MSPs, the other being Alex Rowley, to vote with the SNP and the Tories for a motion calling on Keir Starmer to reverse the cut on Tuesday.
Party bosses reportedly gave five others permission to skip the vote.
Leonard said: “I voted to keep the winter fuel allowance because for me the principle of providing universal support to our pensioners is unyielding.
“This was the first time I had ever voted with the government against the Labour whip. I did not do it lightly and I do not support the SNP’s position on means testing.
“Giving the winter fuel payment to everyone is the only way to guarantee that everyone who needs it will get it.”
The former Scottish Labour leader (above) said that the oldest pensioners were the poorest and that many of them were women who had been “denied access to occupational pensions and on low basic state pensions”.
He added: “There is no moral case for ending this payment, it is socially unjust, and the economic case does not stack up.
“The policy is wrong and should be reversed.”
Scottish Labour tabled an amendment to the SNP’s motion, calling on the Scottish Government to use the £41 million passed to them from the UK Government’s extension to the Household Support Fund to create a new package of support for poorer pensioners.
The motion, which Leonard backed, also called on the Scottish Government to reverse its decision to axe the Fuel Insecurity Fund, which gave grants for energy bills to households in poverty.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said:
“The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice reiterated the result of the Scottish Parliament’s vote last night, calling on the UK government to reverse its damaging decision on the Winter Fuel Payment.
“With the UK government budget just weeks away, the Labour must reverse this cut which will push millions into poverty.”
