OUTSPOKEN Labour councillors in North Ayrshire have gone against Prime Minister Keir Starmer by backing a Tory motion aimed at the UK Government’s decision to limit winter fuel payments for pensioners across the country.

And the SNP Government have also been urged to reverse their decision to follow the Labour proposals in Scotland.

Tory leader Cameron Inglis put forward a motion, which said that council recognised winter fuel payments had been a source of help towards rising heating bills and without these payments, people would suffer a “very harsh winter” which could potentially lead to ill health or death.

It proposed that the chief executive of North Ayrshire Council write to the UK and Scottish Governments expressing concern about cutting winter fuel payments to many of their constituents and the effects this would have on them. It also urged the UK and Scottish Governments to reconsider their decisions.

SNP Councillor Jean McClung suggested a similar motion which did not blame the Scottish Government.

Cllr Cameron InglisCllr Cameron Inglis (Image: North Ayrshire Council) Cllr Inglis said: “We want to show the 50,0000 or so pensioners in North Ayrshire that we are supporting them through what could be a very harsh winter due to UK Government and Scottish Government political choices.

“I would ask that all councillors support this motion in all our wards and the county.”

Cllr McClung said: “I totally agree with what has been said across the chamber but this was a decision taken by the UK Government.”

The motion was seconded by Cllr Margaret Johnson.

Labour Councillor Robert Foster said both parliaments had taken a decision on the matter.

Cllr Joe CullinaneCllr Joe Cullinane (Image: North Ayrshire Council) Labour leader Joe Cullinane said: “I have been a councillor here for 12 years and it’s the first time there has been a Labour government.

“The Tories care less when the debate was about the bedroom tax. The SNP have not taken any responsibilities for any decisions.

“I firmly believe our role is to represent our constituents to deliver local services and work towards improving our communities. We are a political organisation hence we are going to have debates about national politics especially when it involves our constituents.

“I am here to represent our constituents not Keir Starmer or Rachel Reeves or anyone else in the Labour Government.

“The Labour Group unanimously believe the decision on the winter fuel allowance is wrong.

"It was a Labour initiative and we are hugely disappointed it has been unchanged for universal benefit to a means tested one. The threshold for means testing is far too low.

“When you have thresholds someone will always miss out by a couple of months.”

Cllr Margaret JohnsonCllr Margaret Johnson (Image: North Ayrshire Council) SNP Cllr Margaret Johnson said: “UK Labour has made this decision which was not included in their manifesto and it is impacting on the most vulnerable residents in North Ayrshire, Labour’s standard reply is to focus on eligible pensioners to seek help by applying for pension credit.

“The catch was there was a deadline to apply for pension credit, which was on Sunday, September 22.

“It’s a 240-question online document and many pensioners in North Ayrshire don’t have access to the internet or are unable to navigate the complexity of online form filling.”

The motion was carried after securing 14 votes to 10 for the SNP amendment.