The Scottish National Party (SNP) has called on Labour Scottish Secretary Ian Murray to publish the impact assessment of cutting the winter fuel payment, arguing that Scotland's pensioners will be hit hardest by the policy due to harsher winters.
The SNP has urged Ian Murray to say if Scots will die because of the Winter Fuel Payment cut. The Nationalists have called for the Labour Scottish Secretary to publish the impact assessment of cutting the benefit.
When in opposition, the Labour Party's own research warned that cutting the winter fuel payment could cause up to 4000 deaths. MPs voted for the cut in the House of Commons on Tuesday. This included 35 of the 37 Scottish Labour MPs, with two not voting. “It is a basic fact that Scotland experiences harsher and colder winters than the rest of the UK, it is therefore a reality that 860,000 of Scotland’s pensioners will be hit hardest by this Labour Party cut.
“If Ian Murray and Scottish Labour MPs are standing by their damaging decision, they should be open and transparent enough to support the full publication of this impact assessment and its analysis of the harm these Westminster cuts will cause.” Before the cut was announced, the SNP was supposed to take over the benefit and provide its own universal devolved payment. It has since delayed this until next year.
A UK Government spokesperson said: “We are committed to giving pensioners the dignity and security they deserve in retirement, which is why we are protecting the Triple Lock with the State Pension set to increase by £1,700 over the course of parliament.
Snp Labour Winter Fuel Payment Scotland Pensioners
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