ANAS Sarwar has been accused of having a “brass neck” by promising to expand eligibility for a winter fuel payment if he becomes First Minister – despite Scottish Labour MPs having voted in favour of cutting the benefit at Westminster.
Sir Keir Starmer’s government won a vote in the Commons back in September to restrict payments to all but the poorest pensioners, despite charities and opposition parties hitting out at the decision.
All but two of the party’s 37 Scottish MPs voted in favour of the cut, with two not recording a vote.
But, in the wake of MPs taking flak during their first few months in office over the decision, Scottish Labour leader Mr Sarwar pledged to boost the number of people eligible via a new payment if he wins power in 2026.
He added: “For months, I have said that the eligibility criterion of pension credit is too low and called for a Scottish solution to this issue.”
The Scottish Government had been due to launch a benefit to replace the winter fuel payment this winter – dubbed the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment – which would have been delivered by quango Social Security Scotland.
However, SNP ministers said that following the decision by the UK Government to means-test the winter fuel payment, they would need to delay the roll-out of the new benefit until next year, with the Department for Work and Pensions delivering the payment this winter.
Nats chiefs also indicated that they would not be able to stick to their pledge to make the new payment universal.
Although, earlier this month, First Minister John Swinney said he was “actively considering” using the Scottish Budget, due to be set out in December, to restore the universal payment in 2025.
Scottish Labour has confirmed it would means-test the payment from the first year it would be in power, 2026-27.
A spokesman said payments would “taper” downwards as pensioners’ income rises, but every pensioner would still get some form of payment.
Asked if this could be a payment of £1, for example, for the wealthiest, the spokesman said this was possible, but the details had not yet been decided.
Mr Sarwar told journalists that he had not spoken to Prime Minister Sir Keir before setting out his stance on the issue on Tuesday.
But, UK Environment Secretary Steve Reed said: “I’m a big supporter of devolution.
Devolution means different countries in the UK can do things differently.
“So, Scottish Labour have made their choice – if they win the election in Scotland, that’s what they’ll do.”
ALMOST 125,000 people living in Scotland, are currently in receipt of Pension Credit, but thousands are still missing out.
Many older Scots may think they are not entitled to the means-tested benefit because they own their own home or savings.
On top of the cash payments, Pension Credit opens doors to other support, including the Winter Fuel Payment, help with housing costs, council tax and heating bills.
An award of just £1 a week can help provide access to additional benefits and support.
Qualifying Scots will also automatically receive a Winter Fuel Payment of up to £300 in line with the new eligibility change.
You could be eligible for Pension Credit if you are aged 66 or older and your income is below £218.15 a week if you’re single or £332.95 as a couple – this is known as the ‘guarantee’ part of the credit.
Even if your income is higher, you could claim if you meet other criteria, such as being a carer, having a disability, have extra housing costs such as service charges or have a child or young person living with you.
If you have more than £10,000 in savings, you could find that your payments may be cut or reduced – but it is still worth applying even if you only get a little extra each week.
You could get the “savings credit” part of pension credit if you reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016, and you saved some money for retirement, for example, a personal or workplace pension.
This is worth £17.01 for single people or £19.04 for couples.
Mr Sarwar’s move was criticised by political rivals, who blasted him for having not spoken out earlier to oppose the cut, which was first set out by Chancellor Rachel Reeves following the election in July.
Scottish Tory shadow social security secretary Liz Smith said: “Anas Sarwar has some brass neck making this promise.
“His own MPs voted for the UK Labour government cuts at Westminster and the Scottish Labour leader was nowhere to be seen.
“It is easy for him to make promises for future years, but almost a million Scottish pensioners are going to bear the brunt of the cuts to winter fuel payment in the coming weeks.”
The SNP’s Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville also hit out: “This is remarkable Orwellian double-think from the Labour Party.
“Having just cut the Winter Fuel Payment for millions of pensioners across the UK, they now expect people to believe that they are in fact on the side of pensioners.”
MANCHESTER UNITED last faced Ipswich Town at Portman Road over 20 years ago.
But it will be Ruben Amorim‘s first taste as the manager of the Red Devils this Sunday.
The Portuguese boss has replaced Erik ten Hag in the Old Trafford hot seat and started work in training.
He hopes to get off to a positive start against the Tractor Boys, and history will give him some confidence.
The last league encounter at Portman Road ended in a 1-0 away victory for Man United under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Much has changed at the club since April 2002, especially the starting XI.
Here is a look at the starting team from that match and what the old players are up to…
In goal for Man United was the Northern Irish stopper Roy Carroll.
He stayed at the club until 2005 and went on to have stints at West Ham, Rangers and Derby County.
He continued his career abroad as he played for Danish outfit Odense Boldklub and Greek sides OFL and Olympiacos.
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Carroll returned to England in 2014 with Notts County and continued his career right up until 2021.
However, he made a shock return to playing in 2023 as he came out of retirement to play for Ballinamallard United in Northern Ireland.
Phil Neville started the match against the Tractor Boys on the left side of the defence.
The defender also stayed at the club until 2005, when he left for Everton.
Neville stayed at the Toffees up until he retired in 2013 and moved into coaching roles at Man United and Valencia.
In 2018, he was named the manager of the England Women’s team and stayed in the role until he stepped down in 2021.
He then had a stint as the head coach of Canada and is now in charge of the MLS outfit the Portland Timbers.
Wes Brown was one of the two centre-backs that kept a clean sheet in the match.
He stayed at Man United until 2011 and went on to have spells at Sunderland, Blackburn and Indian side Kerala Blasters.
The Englishman retired in 2018 and started a car firm.
In 2023, he was declared bankrupt despite his £50,000-per-week career.
John O’Shea partnered Brown in the heart of the defence.
The Irishman also left the club in 2011 as he joined Brown at the Black Cats.
He stayed at the club until 2018 after suffering back-to-back relegations to League One.
He retired in 2019 after a year with Reading and has most recently been the assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland.
Denis Irwin was coming to the end of his playing days when he lined up against Ipswich Town.
He retired in 2004 after a two-year spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
After hanging up his boots, he moved into media and started working as a presenter for MUTV.
He has gone on to become a columnist at Ireland’s Sunday World newspaper and a contributor to RTE.
Nicky Butt played in the midfield against Ipswich Town for Man United.
He stayed at the club until 2004 but enjoyed a good spell at Newcastle until 2010.
He retired in 2011 after playing for Hong Kong outfit South China.
He most recently was working at Salford City as the CEO but stepped down in October.
Butt was one of the Man United legends that invested in the club back in 2014.
Michael Stewart made one of his handful of Premier League appearances for Man United against Ipswich Town.
The midfielder left the club in 2005, having only made 14 appearances in all competitions.
He spent the majority of his career in Scotland with Hibernian and Hearts of Midlothian.
He ended his playing days back in England with Charlton Athletic in 2011.
After retiring, Stewart entered into politics as he ran for the SNP in the 2015 General Election and became the MP of Edinburgh West constituency.
He has since worked as a pundit for BBC Scotland and for the Scottish Sun.
Luke Chadwick was another part of Ferguson’s midfield against Ipswich Town.
He left Man United in 2004 and continued playing until 2016.
The midfielder had stints at clubs such as West Ham, Stoke City, Norwich City, MK Dons, and Cambridge Town before his final club Soham Town Rangers.
He was most recently the Director of The Football Fun Factory, which is a coach provider, and he runs his own branch.
Roy Keane was the final midfielder in the team at Portman Road.
He left the club in 2005 for a single season at Celtic before retiring from playing.
Keane then tried his hand at management with stints at Sunderland and Ipswich Town.
He also coached under Martin O’Neill at the Republic of Ireland and Nottingham Forest.
He has now become a fan-favourite pundit on Sky Sports with fans often hailing his analysis.
Keane recently praised future son-in-law Taylor Harwood-Bellis after he scored on his England debut.
Diego Forlan was one of two strikers to start the match for Man United against Ipswich Town.
The Uruguayan forward struggled to show his best form during his two-year spell at the Red Devils.
He left in 2004 and went on to become one of the best in Europe during his stint at LaLiga sides Villarreal and Atletico Madrid.
He retired from football in 2018, but that did not end his sporting career.
Earlier this month, he was the wildcard entry into the 2024 Uruguay Open main doubles draw.
However, he and his partner, Argentine Federico Coria, were beaten in straight sets.
Ruud van Nistelrooy was the match-winner against Ipswich Town with his 45th-minute goal.
The Dutchman was one of the most prolific strikers during his time in the Premier League.
He left Old Trafford in 2006 for Real Madrid and ended his career in 2012 at Malaga.
The former striker has since turned to coaching and was the interim boss at Man United following Erik ten Hag‘s sacking.
He won three of four games during his unbeaten time in charge of the club before he was axed by Amorim.
Rio de Janeiro, Nov 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese MP held the second India-Australia Annual Summit on the sidelines of the Group of 20 (G20) Summit in Rio...
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