Anas Sarwar has dismissed claims Scottish Labour fears Holyrood defeat to the SNP amid winter fuel payment pledge.

The Scottish Labour leader announced his party would bring back the winter fuel payment if it wins the Scottish Parliament election in 2026.

However, the UK Labour Government’s decision to means test the benefit received strong criticism when announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves earlier this year.

From this autumn, those not in receipt of pension credit or similar means tested benefits will not receive the payment of up to £300 in England and Wales.

The Scottish Government then said it had “no choice” but to replicate the decision north of the border, arguing the funding had been cut by between £140 million and £160 million.

Earlier this month a Scottish Government insider told the Daily Record that SNP ministers were “actively considering” reintroducing the universal payment in its December budget.

But as Scottish Labour eyes power in Holyrood in 2026, Mr Sarwar said his party were “delivering what’s right for Scotland”.

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Speaking in Glasgow following the announcement, Mr Sarwar would not be drawn on why he has taken the decision now – instead of opposing the Chancellor’s statement.

Following Mr Sarwar’s announcement, he was asked by journalists whether voters would be angry that Scottish Labour MPs did not oppose the winter fuel cuts during the budget.

He said: “I think people will see that we have listened and we’re delivering what’s right for Scotland and what is right for Scotland is a fairer system and an approach that guarantees anyone that needs support gets it.”

The Scottish Labour leader said he has always been strong is his opinion that the pension credit threshold set by the UK Government was “too low”.

But he argued: “A Scottish Labour government would return to it being a devolved payment. We would take the power back from the DWP. We would reinstate the winter fuel payment and we would deliver a fairer system that guarantees everyone who needs support gets it in Scotland. That’s a choice the SNP could have made.”

Mr Sarwar’s party suffered a by-election defeat in Edinburgh last week, falling to third in the Colinton/Fairmilehead ward.

The Liberal Democrats won the seat after former Labour councillor Scott Arthur resigned following his Westminster election in July.

The SNP also held control of Dundee City Council after beating Labour in the Strathmartine and Lochee by-elections in October.

And as Scottish Labour looks to Holyrood, Mr Sarwar was asked if the party was distancing themselves from the UK party.

He said his party will be clear on taking “different approaches” where it benefits Scotland.

"I think I’ve always been clear that we will take a different approach (from the UK Government) where I think it is appropriate in Scotland.

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“We took a different approach, for example, on how we supported our trade union movement on the front line and on picket lines. That’s fundamentally who we are as a political party.

“We obviously took a much early and strong view on the conflict on the Middle East, a position support now by our colleagues across the UK.

“And we have a different view around the threshold for this payment. We also have different views, for example in a whole host of devolved areas of policy.

“This is not about replication of what happens somewhere else automatically has to happen here. It’s a recognition that Scottish powers, Scottish resources, Scottish talent can be used to find Scottish solutions and that’s what we’re going to do.

“That’s the approach we’ve taken up until now and that’s the approach we’ll take if we’re successful in 2026.”

Responding to questions on whether the winter fuel announcement followed concerns over by-election losses, he said: “Labour is winning council by-elections across the country. The SNP have lost 12 council by-elections now in a row and there is still a significant swing from the SNP to Labour in council by-elections across the country.

“But do people mention the winter fuel payment? Of course they do and I think it’s less that means they’re switching to other political parties, it’s more a case of those who think the pension credit threshold is too low.”

Mr Sarwar previously faced a Holyrood rebellion over the payment, with senior party figures backing an SNP motion urging the UK Government to U-turn.

Central Scotland MSP  Richard Leonard - Mr Sarwar's predecessor - and Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Alex Rowley rebelled against Scottish Labour.

Justice spokeswoman Pauline McNeill, community safety spokeswoman Katy Clark skipped the vote, alongside Carol Mochan, Rhoda Grant and Monica Lennon.

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “This is remarkable Orwellian double-think from the Labour Party – having just cut the Winter Fuel Payment for millions of pensioners across the UK, they now expect people to believe that they are in fact on the side of pensioners.

“Anas Sarwar sat on his hands while his Westminster colleagues forced through this cut, and he must explain why Labour failed to back the reintroduction of the Winter Fuel Payment just a few weeks ago in the Scottish Parliament.

"The people of Scotland will see right through the fact that Scottish Labour's ambition for Scotland is to simply mitigate decisions made by a Westminster Labour government – by contrast, the SNP will always put Scotland first."