THE SNP Scottish government was condemned today after choosing to follow in Labour’s footsteps by ditching universal fuel support for pensioners.

A Winter Fuel Allowance for all pensioners was introduced by Labour in 1997, but within weeks of returning to power Chancellor Rachel Reeves slashed eligibility to only include those claiming pensioner tax credit.

This winter’s round of payments had for the first time been devolved to the Scottish government, rebadged as Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP).

But despite heavily criticising UK Labour government’s decision to embrace the means test less than a fortnight ago, amid what SNP Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes branded “eerie silence from Labour politicians north of the border,” the SNP Scottish government has now chosen to follow suit.

Blaming the Chancellor’s decision, which cut Scottish budgets by £160 million, for the SNP U-turn, Ms Forbes said: “Devolving a policy weeks after cutting its budget by almost 90 per cent is disrespectful.

“Not only does it drive a coach and horses through the devolution settlement, it ignores the disproportionate importance of this payment to households in Scotland, who face harsher winters and higher fuel costs.

“People voted for a change of government at Westminster — but Labour’s approach to devolving the winter fuel payment without the original budget associated with it is disrespectful and damaging.”

Echoing her sentiments, End Fuel Poverty Coalition’s Simon Francis called it a “decision made in Westminster by the Chancellor, but it is pensioners in Scotland and across the rest of the UK that will pay the price.”

He said: “Unless we see urgent action to keep people warm this winter, one of the first actions of the new UK government will be to condemn more vulnerable Scottish households to fuel poverty.”

The UK government was contacted for comment.