Protestors storm UK Gov Glasgow office in anger over Winter Fuel Payment cuts

Protestors stormed the UK Government office in Glasgow as they tried to deliver an open letter to the Prime Minister over Winter Fuel Payment cuts.

Police were in attendance at Atlantic Square on Wednesday afternoon as demonstrators gathered armed with picket signs to call on the Government not to go ahead with the controversial policy after MPs voted for the payments to be means tested last night.

The proposals, designed to save £1.5bn, have been criticised as older people on modest incomes will lose out at a time of rising energy costs.

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Organiser Sean Clerkin, from the Scottish Tenants Organisation, tried to hand over an open letter while others held signs saying "Shame!" and "Pensioners will die this winter". It is understood that staff locked the doors of the headquarters and refused to accept the letter.

Sean said: “We are calling for the continued payment of winter fuel payments of up to £300 to our Scottish Pensioners and for the introduction of a social tariff on energy to help the most vulnerable people in the UK”.

Elders above the threshold for receiving benefits, who might otherwise struggle to make ends meet, could lose out on the £300 annual payment. Around 900,000 pensioners in Scotland are expected to be affected by the cut.

Politicians voted against a Tory attempt to block the Labour Government's plans to stop all pensioners receiving the benefit by 348 votes to 228.

The House of Commons vote saw only one Labour backbencher oppose the Government in supporting the Conservative motion. Some 53 MPs - including seven ministers - had no vote recorded.

Before the cut was announced, the SNP was supposed to take over the benefit and provide its own universal devolved payment in Scotland. It has since delayed this until next year.

A UK Government spokesperson said: “We are committed to giving pensioners the dignity and security they deserve in retirement, which is why we are protecting the Triple Lock with the State Pension set to increase by £1,700 over the course of parliament.

“But given the dire state of the public finances we have inherited, it’s right that we target support to those who need it most. Over a million pensioners will continue to receive the Winter Fuel Payment, many will benefit from the £150 Warm Home Discount scheme, and we urge others to check their eligibility for Pension Credit.”

Police Scotland has been contacted for comment.

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