Murdo has hit out at Labour’s “betrayal” of pensioners after cuts to winter fuel payments were confirmed in a House of Commons vote.
He says the winter fuel payments, which were worth between £100-£300 for pensioners in Perth and Kinross, were a “lifeline” for many hard-pressed pensioners and Labour have made the “wrong choice” in deciding to means-test them.
Murdo has highlighted estimated figures – based on previous House of Commons constituency boundaries which shows the “devastating impact” the cuts will have on pensioners in the region. The figures show that an estimated total of 2,115 will no longer receive the Pension Credit payment in Perth and Kinross.
He also criticised the SNP for following Labour’s lead and confirming that they will also be cutting the payments in Scotland. He 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 in Perth and Kinross.
Commenting, Murdo said: “Labour’s decision represents a total betrayal of pensioners in Perth and Kinross. 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 Perth and Kinross. These payments were a lifeline for many of them and this is completely the wrong choice by Labour.”
Murdo continued: “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 Perth and Kinross.”
