SCOTTISH Labour have blamed the cut to the Winter Fuel Payment for damaging losses in two by-elections, stressing it was the “biggest factor” in people not voting.
The SNP secured two more seats on Dundee City Council on Thursday night as Lee Mills beat Labour’s Marty Smith in the Lochee ward while Jimmy Black saw off Richard McCready in Strathmartine.
It meant the SNP held on to majority control of the council.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar had been hoping to win both contests but, responding to the defeats, the party said the UK Government’s decision to make the Winter Fuel Payment means-tested contributed significantly to the result.
A senior party source told the Daily Record: “The Winter Fuel Payment policy and the freebies stories were talked about constantly by voters on polling day. These were the biggest factors in folk not coming out.
“The SNP locally will see it as a free pass on their appalling record and it makes changing NHS and education performance much harder in the short term. The SNP vote fell but the significantly improved performance of the last two years for Labour did not turn out."
Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves caused anger when she announced the £300 Winter Fuel Payment for older people would no longer be universal.
Around 900,000 pensioners in Scotland will lose out and it would seem the matter is coming up a lot on the doorsteps.
The Ballot Box Scotland website, which provides expert analysis on elections, said of the Lochee result: “Pretty surprised by this one I have to say. This should have been Labour's to win based on 2022 results and shifts since. SNP started the day at risk of losing their Dundee majority, and have ended up growing it instead.”
The Lochee by-election was called following the death of Labour councillor Charlie Malone in July.
The Strathmartine by-election was called after Dundee City Council leader John Alexander – who was an SNP councillor for 12 years – stepped down in August.
Following the SNP’s victories, party MP Chris Law tweeted: “Oh my goodness a double win for @thesnp with a fantastic new councillor Lee Mills of Lochee and an increase in size of @DundeeSNP council majority. Thank you Dundee.”
First Minister John Swinney also wrote on Twitter/X: “Excellent results in Lochee and Strathmartine for Lee Mills and Jimmy Black.
“The SNP retain control of Dundee Council. Well done to our team.”
