Craig Hoy MSP and the Conservative Council group have hit out at Labour’s “betrayal” of pensioners after cuts to winter fuel payments were confirmed in a House of Commons vote.
Craig says the winter fuel payments – which were worth between £200 and £300 for pensioners – were a “lifeline” for many hard-pressed pensioners and Labour have made the “wrong choice” in deciding to means-test them.
He criticised the SNP for following Labour’s lead and confirming that they will also be cutting the payments in Scotland.
Craig says the SNP’s financial mismanagement during their 17 years in power is behind them following Labour’s lead and imposing the cuts on pensioners.
He added that both Labour and the SNP must “accept responsibility” for the cuts and why they have targeted pensioners in such a “shameful” way.
Craig said: “Labour’s decision represents a total betrayal of pensioners in East Lothian. They promised to keep these payments during the election but have now disgracefully ditched that pledge. This will have a devastating impact on thousands of pensioners in East Lothian. These payments were a lifeline for many, and this is completely the wrong choice by Labour.
“The SNP are shamefully following Labour’s lead and they only have themselves to blame. They have mismanaged Scotland’s finances during their 17 years in power and now the effects of that are coming home to roost. Both Labour and the SNP need to accept responsibility for these cuts and be upfront with pensioners as to why they have been targeted in such a shameful way.
The Scottish Conservatives are firmly opposed to these cuts, and I will always be on the side of pensioners in East Lothian.”