Scottish Labour to force Holyrood vote on Winter Fuel Payment

SCOTTISH Labour have unveiled 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. 

MSPs will vote on Scottish Labour’s proposals during Stage 3 of the Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill on Tuesday, December 3. 

One of Scottish Labour’s amendments would scrap the current rules restricting the Winter Fuel Payment to those on pension credit from 2025-26 onwards.

A separate amendment would give Scottish Ministers the ability to introduce a form of tapering for the highest earners.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar was slammed as a "chancer" last week after after pledging to bring back a Winter Fuel Payment should Scottish Labour win the next Holyrood election.

It would mean him reversing a cut made by Keir Starmer's (below) Labour Government at Westminster, which Sarwar's MPs backed.

Sarwar also had his group of MSPs vote against a Holyrood motion calling on the UK Government to reverse its cuts to the payments.

Scottish Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville 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 MP Pete Wishart branded Scottish Labour's U-turn "beyond bizarre" insisting no one would take the "pathetic little ruse" seriously.

Scottish Labour have suggested that it would be a “gross betrayal” if the SNP fails to back these plans after decrying the changes to the eligibility criteria.

Scottish Labour MSP Paul O’Kane said: “Scottish Labour has been clear that if win the 2026 election, we will reinstate the Winter Fuel Payment for thousands of pensioners – but people shouldn’t have to wait that long.

“Next week will we have an opportunity to take a different approach in Scotland and ensure that every pensioner who needs a payment gets one.

“Across the UK, Labour is cleaning up the mess left behind by the Tories, but Scotland needs a change of direction too.

“The SNP has offered a lot of warm words on Winter Fuel Payments, so it would be a gross betrayal if the SNP fails to back these amendments."