Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Starmer must U-turn on cut to winter fuel payment says Flynn
MORE than 850,000 pensioners will lose out as a result of the change in eligibility for the winter fuel payment, the SNP has said as it called on the prime minister to U-turn on the “damaging plan”.
Research from the House of Commons Library shows more than 991,431 pensioners in Scotland received the payment in 2022-23.
There were 133,106 pensioners receiving pension credit or other means-tested benefits, meaning 87% will lose the payment.
Those eligible for pension credit must earn less than £11,343 a year.
There will be a binding vote in the Commons next week on the Labour Government’s plan to axe the winter fuel payment for all but the poorest pensioners.
Following the decision at Westminster, the Scottish Government said the equivalent payment north of the border will be restricted to “older people who receive relevant eligible benefits”.
SNP ministers said they had “no choice” due to the reduction in funding coming to Scotland.
The party’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said his MPS will vote against the government statutory instrument – which will legally change eligibility for the benefit – on Tuesday.
He said: “Keir Starmer must U-turn on his damaging plan to end the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners across the UK, which will see around 860,000 Scottish pensioners pay the price for the Labour Government’s draconian cuts.”
A UK Government spokesperson said: “The UK Government has protected the poorest pensioners by ensuring people on pension credit or certain other income-related benefits will continue to receive the payment.”