SCOTTISH Labour MPs were “upset” after only finding out about their nominal leadership’s U-turn on the Winter Fuel Payment in the media.
Anas Sarwar, who leads the Scottish Labour group, did not let his own MPs know about the decision to oppose the UK Government’s cut before going public, according to the Daily Record.
Scottish Labour MSPs had been whipped to vote against reinstating the Winter Fuel Payment just weeks before the U-turn, while the group’s MPs had voted for it to be cut in September.
Sarwar himself had been an outspoken supporter of the cut, describing it as an “opportunity” for Scotland.
His U-turn came as Scottish Labour dropped in the polls, with the cut becoming a key issue for voters in by-elections across the country.
The move was reported in the media before Scottish Labour MPs were told, the Daily Record reported. A source told that paper: "Some MPs said they were upset to find out about it in the manner that they did.”
The news comes with Scottish Labour set to try and force SNP ministers to reinstate a universal Winter Fuel Payment from 2025, which they are already committed to doing.
In a piece of political theatre, Sarwar’s group will on Tuesday propose an amendment to the Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill which would require the Scottish Government to bring in a new universal Winter Fuel Payment by November 2025.
The SNP Government has already committed to bringing in a universal Winter Fuel Payment of at least £100 for the winter of 2025.
Labour will also table a motion which would allow ministers to then taper that payment for higher earners, which SNP ministers have not indicated they will do.
Scottish Labour’s social security spokesperson Paul O’Kane said: “This is a chance to come together to deliver for the people of Scotland by agreeing to reinstate Winter Fuel Payments.
“Scottish Labour’s amendments will scrap the restrictive rules and reinstate Winter Fuel Payments for thousands of pensioners – something the SNP claims to support.
“There is cross-party agreement that the criteria system isn’t wide enough, and now that Labour has delivered record levels of funding for Scotland we have the money and the powers we need to change it.
“I hope MSPs from across the chamber will put their constituents first and make this a moment of unity for our Parliament.”
