SCOTTISH Labour are “just as culpable as UK Labour” for the Winter Fuel Payment cut, a union boss has said.
Derek Thomson of Unite described the move to the Daily Record as "shameful".
The UK Government has faced backlash after a decision to remove the Winter Fuel Payment from all but the poorest pensioners before the Scottish Government subsequently announced this would be passed on to pensioners in Scotland, opting to postpone exercising its devolved powers over the benefit until winter 2025.
Thomson, Unite’s Scottish regional secretary, said: "It's a baffling decision for a new Government to make. My mother is apoplectic with rage. She voted Labour, now she's losing her Winter Fuel Payment.
"This is a lifeline for people over a cold winter. I find it shameful they have justified it as: 'tough decisions have to be made'. Well, they do, but this is the wrong decision at the wrong time."
Asked by the newspaper if it would cost Labour in the long-run, he added: "Absolutely. In Scotland, we look at things differently to the Labour/Tory domination of Westminster. Both the SNP and Labour, in my view, can put forward progressive things in the Scottish Parliament."
He went on: "People are really struggling and public services are on their knees. Have Labour let themselves down? Yes. Some people say to me, it's not Scottish Labour's fault over what's happened.
"Well, Scottish Labour stood on the coat tails of UK Labour at the General Election. They said, 'back us on Grangemouth', and failed to deliver. In my view, they are just as culpable as UK Labour."
A Scottish Labour spokeswoman said: "Labour will always stand up for workers and the UK government is already delivering for working people. Work is underway to boost pay and deliver the greatest boost to workers’ rights in a generation through the New Deal for Working people, and there is a package of support to help secure an industrial future for Grangemouth.
"Scottish Labour has set out fully-costed plans to protect the most vulnerable this winter and we urge the SNP to work with us to deliver them. After 14 years of economic vandalism by the Tories, Labour is working to fix the foundations and deliver a decade of national renewal.”
A UK Government spokesperson said: "We are committed to supporting pensioners – with millions set to see their state pension rise by up to £1,700 this parliament through our commitment to the Triple Lock. Over a million pensioners will still receive the Winter Fuel Payment, and our drive to boost Pension Credit take up has already seen a 152 per cent increase in claims.
"Many others will also benefit from the £150 Warm Home Discount to help with energy bills over winter while our extension of the Household Support Fund will help with the cost of food, heating and bills."
