Independence pensions row as SNP insists Westminster will pay bill if Scots vote Yes
03.02.2022 - 12:27
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
Ian Blackford has insisted the UK Government will continue to pay the pensions of older people living in Scotland in the wake of independence.
The SNP's leader at Westminster claimed older Scots had a right to receive a pension after spending decades of paying National Insurance contributions to the UK Treasury.
The MP pointed to the example of pensioners who choose to live abroad in another European country but can still claim their basic state pension.
Opposition politicians claimed it was "blatantly inaccurate" to claim pensions would be unaffected if Scots voted for independence at a future referendum.
Steve Webb, the UK pensions minister in 2014, said people who had "accumulated rights" would be entitled to current levels of state pension in an independent Scotland.
But Danny Alexander, then chief secretary to the Treasury, repeatedly warned about the insecurity of pensions if Scotland voted to leave the UK.
Ian Blackford insisted in an interview yesterday the position was "clear" on who would meet entitlements.
He told ITV Border: "This was an issue that was discussed in 2014.
"But let's be clear about this, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury made it clear the UK retained an obligation to pay pensions to those who had paid National Insurance.
"That's a matter of precedence."
He continued: "The Scottish Government would take on the responsibility of its pensioners. Let's not forget we have the lowest state pension in Western Europe at the moment.
"Pensioners are being short-changed. It's Westminster that has removed the Triple Lock.
"The point is, it's an obligation on the UK Government to meet the commitment to pensioners who have paid National Insurance contributions.
"They have paid the right to receive that pension. You