A SCOTTISH Labour MP has been told to “own their decision” after voting to cut the universal Winter Fuel Payment – and then telling constituents to go to MSPs with their concerns.
It comes after Keir Starmer’s party voted to impose a £1.4 billion cut on pensioner benefits, stripping around 10 million of funds to help people pay their heating bills.
Following the vote, Scottish Labour MP for Bathgate and Linlithgow Kirsteen Sullivan put out a statement on why she supported the move, saying she “regrets" that the decision had to be made.
Statement from me. pic.twitter.com/vf0eA2coLM
— Kirsteen Sullivan MP (@kittysull1) September 10, 2024
She said: "I am writing this statement following the Chancellor of the Exchequer's decision to restrict the Winter Fuel Payment in England and Wales. I regret that this decision had to be made, but I believe it is important to explain why it was necessary and why I voted to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment.
“The Winter Fuel Payment is being devolved to the SNP Scottish Government from October, becoming the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
“The Poverty and Inequality Commission advised in March 2024 that that this payment should be means-tested.
“Given the recent £500m cuts to public services in Scotland, it is likely the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment would have been means-tested regardless of the Chancellor’s decision.
“You may wish to contact your local MSP to request that the Scottish Government keeps this payment universal.”
Sullivan’s comments are in opposition to what the Scottish Government said when it announced an end to universal fuel payments in Scotland.
Cuts to the payment initiated by the UK Government are set to reduce the block grant adjustment associated with the payment by an estimated £140-£160m in 2024-25.
Scottish Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Despite all efforts to review our financial position we have been left with no choice but to follow the UK Government and restrict payments to older people who receive relevant eligible benefits.
“This is a necessary decision when faced with such a deep cut to our funding and in the most challenging financial circumstances since devolution. The reduction we are facing amounts to as much as 90% of the cost of Scotland’s replacement benefit, the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
“Given the UK Government’s decision to restrict payments to those in receipt of means-tested benefits, such as Pension Credit, and the implications for the Scottish Government detailed above, I have urged the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to undertake a benefits take-up campaign for Pension Credit and to move forward with plans for a social energy tariff."
In her statement, Sullivan added that “both governments faced difficult decisions” and pointed to a “22 billion Tory cover-up,” echoing Keir Starmer in saying that “tough choices were necessary to address the inherited financial instability”.
SNP MSP for Kirkcaldy David Torrance said that Labour need to “own their decision” and admit the decision was a “political choice to scrap the universal Winter Fuel Payment”.
“It is no wonder that MPs who voted to back Keir Starmer’s latest austerity measure are embarrassed and attempting to push the blame elsewhere,” he told The National.
“Keir Starmer’s (below) attempt to pass the buck by undermining the devolution settlement and devolving this benefit shortly after removing funding for it will not wash with the public – and will not help pensioners worried about how they will heat their homes this winter.
“The SNP will continue to press the UK Government to abandon its austerity agenda and reverse this Draconian cut.”
Sullivan’s statement also pointed to a number of other measures and said it was important to “address misinformation” around the payment.
She said: “The notion that the Winter Fuel Allowance is being withdrawn is misleading, it will be means tested like most other benefits so that it targets pensioners on the lowest incomes.
“The combination of increased state pensions, lower energy bills and additional support measures ensures that pensioners will still receive assistance to manage their heating costs.”
The MP added that she would "continue to work to ensure this UK Labour Government protects the most vulnerable, particularly pensioners".
The National has approached Sullivan for further comment.
