ANAS Sarwar has been slammed as a "chancer" after pledging to bring back a Winter Fuel Payment should Scottish Labour win the next Holyrood election.
The announcement means that the Scottish Labour leader would reverse a cut made by his own Labour Government, which he previously defended.
Sarwar also had his group of MSPs vote against a Holyrood motion calling on the UK Government to reverse its cuts to the payments.
SNP Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart called the move into question, highlighting how Sarwar had his group of MSPs vote against a Holyrood motion just last month calling on the UK Government to reverse its cuts to the payments.
🥀 Is that the same Winter Fuel Payment Scottish Labour MSPs voted against reversing last month? The same one that Scottish Labour MPs voted in favour of cutting? https://t.co/oMXs5eBy8V
— Kaukab Stewart MSP (@kaukabstewart) November 19, 2024
She asked: "Is that the same Winter Fuel Payment Scottish Labour MSPs voted against reversing last month? The same one that Scottish Labour MPs voted in favour of cutting?"
"Honestly, what an absolute chancer," added SNP MSP George Adam.
"How about talking to your Scottish MPs that voted for it in the first place."
Honestly, what an absolute chancer! How about talking to your Scottish MP’s that voted for it in the first place. https://t.co/ic8ZlNsCxB
— George Adam (@GeorgeAdam) November 19, 2024
SNP MSP for the Highlands and Islands Emma Roddick, meanwhile, told The National: "Anas Sarwar shouldn't be surprised when folk feel unable to take him at his word on this when it's a Labour Government which removed the funding for Winter Heating Payments.
She added: "Scottish Labour MPs failed to oppose this move when given the opportunity, and Anas Sarwar himself along with the vast majority of his MSPs refused to back a motion in the Scottish Parliament calling on his London bosses to reverse this decision.
"All we can learn from this empty statement is that Scottish Labour is taking lessons from Starmer on making pre-election promises; without the action to back it up."
SNP MP Pete Wishart also slammed it as "beyond bizarre".
He added: "No one will take this pathetic little ruse seriously and it is only likely to increase the anger against a Labour Party who withdrew winter fuel allowances in the first place."
Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman (below), meanwhile, said that the idea that he would reinstate the benefit if elected in 2026 is "simply not good enough".
“It is mid-November and temperatures have already plummeted. This time of year can be perilous to the most vulnerable groups in our country and we have to find ways to take care of them," she added.
“The pensioners who are freezing now don’t have the time to wait for Labour politicians to find their principles or their spines - they need support in place immediately to tackle the exorbitant rates it costs to simply stay warm in their homes.
“There is more that the Scottish Government can and must do to support people through a long cold winter, but with household bills soaring and people freezing now, there is an immediate onus on Westminster to act.
“It is time for Anas Sarwar to stand up to Keir Starmer and call on him to reverse this cruel cut now, rather than using it as a bargaining chip to further himself in a leadership bid come election time.”
It is understood that Scottish Labour plans are to bring back a universal Winter Fuel Payment, which will then be tapered according to income with future changes. The plan is that every pensioner will still receive a payment, although for the wealthy this will be tokenistic.
The U-turn comes amid concerns that the policy was hurting Scottish Labour on the doorsteps, and just days ahead of three council by-elections in Glasgow.
On Thursday, Labour will look to defend three seats after their newly elected MPs resigned from the local authority.
