Glasgow Conservative group leader Cllr Thomas Kerr has slammed Labour for their “shameful betrayal” of pensioners across the city. He has hit out after Labour MPs voted in the House of Commons to confirm cuts to winter fuel payments will be implemented. Thomas says Labour have u-turned on their commitment they made during the election to keep the payments – which are worth between £100-£300 – to pensioners and says that they have made completely the “wrong choice.”
Highlighting new figures showing that over 50,000 pensioners across the city will now no longer receive the payment because of Labour’s “callous” cuts, Thomas says the payments are a “lifeline” for many pensioners in Glasgow, especially in more deprived areas such as the Shettleston ward he represents. He also hit out at the SNP for following Labour’s lead and says it is their “appalling” financial mismanagement during their 17 years in charge that has put them in this position and for also cutting affordable warmth payments in Glasgow City Council. Adding that the Glasgow Conservatives will always be on the side of pensioners and that Labour and the SNP must now take “full responsibility” for their decision to target pensioners in such a “disgraceful way.”
“Labour’s cuts to winter fuel payments are a shameful betrayal of pensioners across Glasgow. Labour promised that these payments would be continued but have now shamefully u-turned on their previous pledge. Over 50,000 pensioners will face the impact of these callous cuts. Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party have made completely the wrong choice.
These payments are a lifeline for many pensioners in Glasgow, including in my Shettleston ward. This could now be the difference between heating and eating for many of them. The SNP have nowhere to hide on this issue either. They are following Labour’s lead and they only have themselves to blame. They have mismanaged Scotland’s finances appallingly for the last 17 years and now pensioners are going to pay the price. The Glasgow Conservatives will always be on the side of pensioners. Labour and the SNP must now take full responsibility for these cuts and why they have targeted pensioners in such a disgraceful way.”
