For immediate release:

RUTHERGLEN’S LABOUR MP PUTS PARTY BEFORE PENSIONERS IN KEY COMMONS VOTE 

MSP for Rutherglen Clare Haughey has called out local Labour MP, Michael Shanks, for voting with the UK Government in favour of cutting the Winter Fuel Payment, accusing the politician of putting “party before pensioners”.

MPs voted in Westminster on Labour’s plans to means-test Winter Fuel Payments which passed by 348 votes to 228. Rutherglen MP Michael Shanks was among the 348.

Only one Labour MP voted against the party whip, whilst all SNP MPs voted to maintain the current provision.

There has been widespread condemnation of the UK Government’s cuts to the benefit.

Age UK have said “cutting the Winter Fuel Payment is the wrong policy decision and will leave millions of older people struggling this winter”, whilst Rutherglen Labour councillor, Martin Lennon, has slammed the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, saying she has “wanted to means test Winter Fuel Payments for at least a decade because she is ideologically committed to means testing and austerity”.

Up to 900,000 Scots pensioners could miss out on the Winter Fuel Payment due to Labour cuts, according to SNP-commissioned analysis.

Of the almost 1 million impacted across Scotland, it is estimated that 52,040 people will be impacted in South Lanarkshire.

This includes thousands of pensioners on a low or modest income, who are just above the £11,343 a year threshold for Pension Credit.

Commenting, Clare Haughey MSP said:

“Michael Shanks was elected on the promise of ‘change’, but instead put party before pensioners, who are now paying the price for Labour’s dishonesty and their ridiculous commitment to matching Tory fiscal rules.

“Mr Shanks’ actions are particularly shocking given that he is an Energy Minister – and is now forcing this decision on the coldest country in the UK.

“Labour’s move to means-test the payment will impact people who are earning just above the £11,343 a year threshold for Pension Credit – by no means wealthy individuals.

“I find it staggering that since the vote, some Scottish Labour MPs – not one of whom had the backbone to oppose their party’s cuts – have since called on the SNP Scottish Government to mitigate this. I was used to Scottish Labour politicians urging the SNP Government to mitigate Tory policies – as we have done with the Bedroom Tax – but to mitigate their own party’s cuts is reprehensible and treating the public with contempt.

“This was a UK Labour decision and they should be apologising to the pensioners across Rutherglen and Cambuslang who are affected.”

ENDS