Somerville attacks Labour over ‘shambolic’ handling of winter fuel payments

Scotland’s Social Justice Secretary has described the UK Government’s handling of winter fuel payments as “shambolic”.

Shirley-Anne Somerville welcomed Labour’s U-turn on the benefit cut, but said the decision should never have happened in the first place.

She said ministers in Westminster were making it difficult for their Scottish counterparts to plan for the social security system north of the border, with the Scottish Government learning of policy decisions through social media.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves, on Monday, announced a major U-turn on the decision to scrap the winter fuel payment for all but the poorest pensioners.

She said nine million pensioners in England and Wales will now be in receipt of the payment this year, following an intense backlash since the initial decision to cut the benefit.

The change should see the Scottish Government, which is in charge of the benefit in Scotland, receive more money from Westminster.

Currently, all pensioners in Scotland will receive a £100 payment, with those on Pension Credit receiving up to £300.

Appearing on the BBC’s Good Morning Scotland programme, the Social Justice Secretary said the initial decision to scrap universal winter fuel payments was a “mistake”.

She said: “The U-turn is welcome but I think it points to a rather shambolic way to make policy, which does have its implications on the Scottish Government because we are in a system where we are inextricably linked to spending decisions and policy decisions from Westminster, and it’s very difficult to try and run a devolved social security system when you’re actually finding out some of the details on social media before you can actually find out the details from the Government.

“Now, that’s no way for the Governments to work together, and I’m deeply disappointed, welcoming the U-turn, but deeply disappointed in the way that the UK Government have handled this once again with the Scottish Government.”

Appearing later on the same programme, the Scottish Secretary said the UK Government would never consult the Scottish Government on decisions it takes in devolved areas.

Ian Murray said: “We never consult the Scottish Government on policy that is devolved.

“And if we did consult the Scottish Government on policy that was devolved, they would be screaming blue murder at the fact that we’re encroaching on the devolution settlement.

“This is a devolved payment. There’s lots of social security that is devolved in Scotland. It is up to the Scottish Government to develop that and come up with their own policy.”

Mr Murray said the Scottish Government’s winter fuel payments system means “limited public money” will go towards helping millionaire pensioners with their heating bills.

He said the initial decision by the UK Government to scrap the universal payments was the “right thing to do at the time”.

Asked how the UK Government could afford the U-turn, he said his party had “stabilised” the economy.