SCOTTISH Labour have been slammed after unveiling plans to force a vote in Holyrood on bringing back a Winter Fuel Payment.
The party has lodged a series of amendments to the Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill looking to reinstate the Winter Fuel Payment for the majority of pensioners and set up a tapering mechanism for the highest earners.
It comes after leader Anas Sarwar had his group of MSPs vote against a Holyrood motion calling on the UK Government to reverse its cuts to the payments.
Only two Scottish Labour MSPs voted with the Government: former Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard and MSP Alex Rowley.
Scottish Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville (below) has said the "hypocrisy" of Scottish Labour is "staggering".
She posted on Twitter/X: "14 Labour MSPs voted AGAINST a motion last month that demanded the UK Gov reverse its Winter Fuel Payment cut.
"Now, they want @theSNP to clean up the mess that their own party created down at Westminster.
"The shamelessness of their hypocrisy is staggering."
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said the move was "Sarwar announcing to Scotland that he is too weak to persuade Starmer".
SNP MP Pete Wishart branded Scottish Labour's U-turn "beyond bizarre" and said: "'Scottish' Labour are now gaslighting a nation."
An SNP staffer also said: "This is extraordinary. It was Scottish Labour MPs in Westminster who voted to remove the Winter Fuel Payment in the first place.
"In October, the SNP tabled a motion in Holyrood calling on the UK Government to reverse the decision Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour voted against it."
Greens activist Iris Duane said: "Your MPs voted to remove it. Every single MP in Glasgow voted to freeze pensioners."
She asked: "Have you changed your mind? Or does Scottish Labour think pensioners south of the border are worth less?"
Glasgow councillor Christina Cannon also reacted, stating: "Scottish Labour went from ‘vote Labour to stop the Tories’ to ‘vote Labour to stop Labour’ very quickly."
Another said the move by Labour was "truly disgusting politicking", adding: "Every Scottish Labour MP voted to cut the Winter Fuel Payment at Westminster, resulting in a cut to the Scottish Government budget.
"Vote to cut the budget then attempt to force the Scottish Government to pay the Winter Fuel Payment from a smaller budget?"
MSPs will vote on Scottish Labour’s proposals during Stage 3 of the Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill on Tuesday, December 3.
