Labour by-election candidate urges Keir Starmer to restore winter fuel payment in full
David Russell backed reinstatement for all pensioners rather than a more generous means-tested system.
Labour's candidate in a crunch Holyrood by-election has called on Keir Starmer to reverse the UK Government's cuts to winter fuel payments.
David Russell admitted the policy had been raised on the doorsteps and urged the Prime Minister to reinstate the cash sums in full.
His demand came hours before the Prime Minister backed a partial u-turn after a huge backlash.
Russell also said he would not appear on an STV candidates' debate on June 2nd, leaving the prospect of the broadcaster empty chairing Labour.
Voters will select their new MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse on June 5th after the death of the SNP's Christina McKelvie.
The SNP and Labour were believed to be in a two horse race, but Reform UK have been tipped for second place.
An issue raised on the doorsteps during the Labour campaign was the Labour Government's decision to strip millions of pensioners of a WFP worth up to £300 a year.
Russell backed a rethink: 'He [Starmer[ made some really hard decisions at the start and, hopefully, as money is freed up, the whole of the UK can benefit and hopefully he reinstates it across the UK.'
He also called for all pensioners to get the payment back, rather than making the means test more generous:
'Where you have thresholds, it costs money in administration. It is probably cheaper to reinstate it to where it was, rather than means test or have some form of threshold.'
Starmer, who had hinted a possible u-turn, then suggested to MPs the payment would be extended to more pensioners:
"As the economy improves, we want to make sure people feel those improvements in their days as their lives go forward.
"That is why we want to ensure that as we go forward more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments.
'As you would expect Mr Speaker, we will only make decisions we can afford, that is why we will look at that as part of a fiscal event.'
A Labour source said: "It's clear that the people of HLS won't do better than Davy Russell when it comes to getting results. From his words to the dispatch box in less than an hour - where Davy leads others follow."
Russell also confirmed he would not be present during an STV candidates' debate days before polling day.
Party sources told the Record they feared Russell is not a media performer and worried about how would cope on TV.
Asked whether he would take part, he replied: 'No.'
Asked why not, he said: 'Because I took a conscious decision that I think the best way to get to the public is chapping doors and hearing their concerns live. That's just my personal preference.'
He was asked why he could not chap doors and appear on TV:
'As far as I am aware, the debate was only two people, so where is the democracy in that when there's ten candidates?'
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