John Swinney challenged over 'unnecessary deaths' risk from winter fuel cut as 4,000 lives overall at risk

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said a “disproportionate” numbers of deaths were likely to occur in Scotland due to its colder climate. He also accused the Scottish Government of previously plotting to scale back the benefit, despite blaming Labour for the cut.

Mr Swinney said his opponent was “plumbing new depths” in his final weeks as Scottish Tory leader. Mr Ross is stepping down at the end of this month.

In July, Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced winter fuel payments will be restricted to those receiving pension credit, meaning around ten million pensioners will lose out this winter.

The Scottish Government said the equivalent payment north of the border would also be restricted to “older people who receive relevant eligible benefits”. SNP ministers said they had “no choice” due to the reduction in funding coming to Scotland.

Labour research from 2017 claimed then Tory plans to scrap the winter fuel payment for better-off pensioners could lead to almost 4,000 additional deaths over winter.

During First Minister’s Questions in Holyrood on Thursday, Mr Ross said: “Labour said this policy would kill thousands of pensioners across the United Kingdom. Due to our colder climate, a disproportionate number of those are likely to be in Scotland. So does the First Minister accept that his Government’s decision will lead to unnecessary deaths here in Scotland, and if so, how many?”

Mr Swinney said the Scottish Government had been left with no choice but to make the cut. He said: “I very much regret the fact that we will not be able to make these payments on a universal basis, but we have suffered a Budget cut from the United Kingdom government.”

Mr Ross said a Scottish Government document on the devolved version of the benefit from May said it would “continue to review the eligibility and scope of the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment going forward”.

He said: “The SNP were considering cutting that payment back in May. It’s in black and white in their own document.”

Mr Ross said the Scottish Government had chosen to pass on Labour cuts, “which could see 900,000 Scottish pensioners losing out”.

He continued: “The SNP could have mitigated against those cuts. They have a Budget of over £50 billion. And just this week, we have seen the bloated Scottish Government civil service reach a record high. So can I ask John Swinney, why are public sector pen-pushers more important to him than stopping pensioners freezing in their homes?”

Mr Swinney responded: “In his last weeks in office as Conservative leader, Douglas Ross really is plumbing the depths. His interpretation of the document, I think, is a vindication of that comment.

“Douglas Ross knows full well the way in which the finances of the Scottish Government operate. We suffered a cut in our Budget of £160 million courtesy of the Labour Government. We’ve got to respond to that, and we’ve got to act accordingly.”

He said the Scottish Government had mitigated several “odious” decisions taken by the previous UK Tory administration, adding: “I’m going to take no lessons today from Douglas Ross as he desperately clutches for straws in his last weeks in office.”

Mr Ross hit back: “Standing up for Scotland’s pensioners is not clutching at straws.”