The SNP have been slammed over their decision to copy Labour’s cruel cuts to Winter Fuel Allowance north of the border.

While Labour’s policy in Westminster will have funding implications for Scotland, the question of whether to continue funding universal Winter Fuel payments is a devolved issue to the SNP administration.

At First Minister’s Questions today, the Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross accused the First Minister John Swinney of betraying elderly Scots by copying Labour’s policy.

He blasted the “political choice” made by the SNP to hit older voters, rather than finding savings elsewhere to continue funding the vital welfare policy.

Mr Ross warned that the policy will result in almost a million Scottish pensioners being deprived of the benefit, and demanded to know how many will die this winter as a result.

John Swinney insisted he has no choice but to copy the cuts (Image: Getty)

He told Holyrood: “The Winter Fuel Payment, shameless cut by the Labour Government at Westminster was devolved here to the Scottish Government. Here in Scotland, the decision not to pay this money to pensioners is one for the SNP Scottish Government.”

“In announcing their decision to scrap the Winter Fuel Payment, the SNP must have known the impact this is going to have on 900,000 pensioners here in Scotland.

“Labour said this policy would kill thousands of pensioners across the United Kingdom, and due to our colder climate a disproportionate number of those are likely to be in Scotland.

He asked Mr Swinney whether he accepts that his government’s decision will lead to unnecessary deaths here in Scotland, and if so how many.

The First Minister responded that he “deeply regrets” the fact he finds himself in the position he does, and insisted he had planned on continuing the benefit this year irrespective of Labour’s announcement.

Douglas Ross blasted the SNP (Image: Getty)

However Mr Swinney revealed: “With 90 minutes notice we were abruptly told that our budget will be cut by £160 million because of the decision of the UK government”

He argued: “This is not of our making, or planning, and it’s certainly not of our choice.”

Mr Ross pointed out that the First Minister failed to answer his question about how many may die, while Sir Keir Starmer’s Government also refuses to publish an impact assessment about the policy’s potential impact.

He added: “John Swinney also said ‘it was always the plan to continue to deliver this payment universally. That is not true.”

“The Scottish Government response to the consultation on pension age winter heating payment, published in May long before the Labour Government’s announcement, said this: ‘We will continue to review the eligibility and scope of the pension age winter heating payment moving forward’.

“The SNP were considering cutting that payment back in May! It’s in black and white in their own document!

“John Swinney’s Government has chosen to pass on Labour cuts that will see 900,000 Scottish pensioners missing out.”

He also pointed out that the Scottish Government has a budget of over £50 billion, and could have mitigated the cuts.