Labour MSPs Betray Their Own Party to Side with SNP's Useless Crusade Over Winter Fuel Payments

Well, here we go again. Two Scottish Labour MSPs have decided to defy their leader in what can only be described as a pitiful attempt to grab headlines. Richard Leonard and Alex Rowley, two has-beens who stepped down from any semblance of power, decided to back John Swinney’s sanctimonious motion calling on Westminster to reverse the so-called “cut” to winter fuel payments.

Swinney, in his typical fashion, tabled a *non-binding* motion – and let’s be clear, that means absolutely nothing. But oh no, that didn’t stop them from passing it with 99 votes to 14. Everyone’s piling on, and why not? It’s an easy stick to beat Westminster with, and it gives them a chance to look all virtuous without actually achieving anything.

The truth of the matter is, the Labour amendment, which took out the call for the UK government to backtrack, was voted down. Because why focus on practical solutions when you can just throw accusations around, eh? Instead, Labour had the audacity to call on the Scottish government to reinstate the fuel insecurity fund, because apparently, that’s their job now – fixing problems that could be solved if Holyrood actually managed its own budget competently.

Labour’s Anas Sarwar was reduced to the unenviable position of defending Sir Keir Starmer, insisting that the means-tested criteria were a bit *too tight*. But hey, *at least* he had some loyalty to his leader, unlike those two renegades. Meanwhile, Swinney moaned that they were “forced” into this decision, as if the SNP hasn’t been dancing on Westminster’s every misstep for years. Now they’re trying to spin it as though Labour’s winter fuel payment cut has left them high and dry. £150m lost? That’s the real tragedy here. But instead of doing the tough job of budget management, the SNP would rather point fingers.

Clare Haughey, of course, leapt at the chance to accuse Sarwar of bending over for Starmer rather than standing up for pensioners. The hypocrisy! Swinney had the gall to claim that the cuts to winter fuel payments weren’t in the spirit of devolution. Since when has the SNP ever cared about the spirit of anything, apart from their own agenda?

Oh, and let’s not forget the farce of Labour’s internal rebellion. Six of their MSPs were conveniently absent from the vote, possibly to avoid the embarrassment of being associated with the utter shambles. And Russell Findlay, the Scottish Conservative leader, predictably piled on, saying elderly folk feel betrayed. He’s not wrong, mind you – but it’s hardly a surprise, is it?

Meanwhile, Starmer continues to act like the country’s financial black hole is all that matters, cutting benefits and promising that a state pension increase of £460 next year will somehow make everything better. Sure, because nothing says “we care about the elderly” like telling them to freeze this winter but wait for a bit of extra cash next spring.

So, here we are. Another day in Scottish politics, where Labour can’t keep their MSPs in line, the SNP moans about Westminster, and pensioners, as always, are left out in the cold. The only thing colder than this winter is the distant memory of when any of these parties actually cared about doing what’s right for the people of Scotland.