A LABOUR MP’s call to help support people sign up to pension credit after voting to cut the Winter Fuel Payment has been labelled “ironic”.
Labour were widely condemned after the party voted to scrap the universal Winter Fuel Payment despite warnings it could lead to the deaths of elderly people.
It meant that around 10 million pensioners were stripped of cash to help pay heating bills while the Scottish Government said it had been left with “no choice” but to end universal Winter Fuel Payments north of the Border.
In a post on Twitter/X, Scottish Labour MP for Glasgow North East Maureen Burke said: “I want to ensure that every constituent that is eligible for support this winter gets it.
“That’s why I am holding a special pension credit sign-up on November 1. Me and my team will be on hand to assist with applications and to provide advice.
“Please share and come along.”
Burke was among those to vote to scrap the universal payment with Scottish Labour also facing criticism for backing the move.
Speaking to The National, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde Stuart McMillan (below) said it was “ironic” Burke was holding an event for pensioners who would be directly impacted by cuts imposed by the UK Government.
“It is ironic that a Labour MP who voted for the removal of the universal Winter Fuel Payment for nearly 900,000 Scottish pensioners is now holding an event to assist the constituents directly impacted by her actions,” he said.
“Scottish Labour MPs and MSPs have made it clear where their priorities lie by choosing to bow to their Westminster bosses rather than stand up for Scotland’s pensioners.”
Elsewhere, Nikita Bassi, a staffer for Nicola Sturgeon, commented: "This is just weird.
"Labour MPs chose to cut the Winter Fuel Payment from pensioners and are now pretending they’re interested in helping them out? Make it make sense."
The National has reached out to Burke for further comment.
We also told how Holyrood voted overwhelmingly that the UK Government should reverse its cut to the Winter Fuel Payment.
MSPs voted by 99 to just 14 to oppose the Labour Government’s decision – with all those to oppose coming from Scottish Labour.
However, Scottish Labour MSPs Alex Rowley and former party leader Richard Leonard rebelled and backed the motion which had been put forward by the SNP.
