Scottish Labour MPs urged to defy government on winter fuel payment cut

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn has urged Scottish Labour MPs to defy Keir Starmer and vote against the winter fuel payments cut.

MPs will vote tomorrow on limiting entitlement to the seasonal benefit to those on pension credit.

The UK Government announced its intention to do so at the end of July, prompting concerns that some older people could be pushed into poverty by the change.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said the action is necessary due to a £22bn public finance gap. The decision came as the Scottish Government prepared to take charge of the benefit and Finance Secretary Shona Robison said the resulting cut to Treasury funding meant it would also have to end universal entitlement to pensioners.

Starmer has said his MPs will be expected to vote with the government on the "unpopular" measure, which has been criticised by the Unite and PCS unions.

Seven rebels were suspended from Labour this summer after breaking the party whip and voting against the decision to retain the two-child benefit cap.

The prime minister has declined to say whether similar action would be taken this time, but it is thought that rebels will abstain rather than voting against the change.

In a letter to Sarwar and Scottish Labour MPs, Flynn has said those voting for the cut would break a "personal pledge" made to voters during the election.

He wrote: "Up to 87 per cent of pensioners in Scotland will lose out under Labour government plans, including those on a low and modest income who are just above the pension credit threshold of £11,343 a year.

"This is not the 'change' people in Scotland were promised - and it breaks the personal pledge you made to voters during the election: 'Read my lips: no austerity under Labour'."

Flynn went on: "The damaging decisions the Labour government has made in its first weeks will stain its reputation. By slashing the winter fuel payment you will make life harder for low income pensioners. By keeping the two child cap you will push more children into poverty. And by continuing Tory austerity cuts and Brexit you will do long-term damage to the country.

"I urge you to do the right thing, protect Scottish pensioners and defend Scotland's budget by voting against Keir Starmer's winter fuel payment cuts tomorrow."

Starmer said: "I was elected, and our government was elected, with a clear mandate for change. We will only bring about that change if we stabilise our economy.

"We have looked at the books, there is £22bn missing from the books and we have got to deal with that. I am not going to ignore it. 

"We have got to take tough decisions. Targeting the winter fuel payments is a tough decision."