Swinney and Starmer to discuss trade deals and winter fuel payments at meeting

John Swinney is travelling to London on Friday for talks about how recent international trade deals can boost Scottish products like salmon, whisky, gin, and Irn Bru.

The First Minister will also lean on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to take formal action to reverse the UK Labour Government’s controversial winter fuel payment cuts.

Ahead of the meeting, Swinney said the first action of the UK Government must be to “accept the cut to the Winter Fuel Payment was wrong and announce a restoration so all pensioners get a payment”.

His statement comes days after Starmer indicated at Prime Minister’s Questions that he wants more pensioners across the UK to be eligible for winter fuel payments following what he called improvements to the economy.

Scottish leaders have called these indications “empty”, and Swinney will be pushing for Starmer to make the u-turn more concrete.

The pair will also discuss international trade arrangements after Starmer has announced three major deals with America, India, and Europe to slash tariffs and open markets for trade in recent weeks.

At a meeting of the Council of Nations and Regions in London on Friday, Starmer will tell leaders – including Swinney – that the three deals will deliver economic growth that will improve people’s lives in Scotland.

“These trade deals deliver long term security for people in Scotland. They will create opportunities for more seamless trade and attract inward investment to grow the economy, making a difference to people’s lives,” Starmer said ahead of the meeting.

“These changes will be felt everywhere, whether it’s lower food prices at the checkout, more choice for consumers and higher living standards that will improve livelihoods across Scotland.”

The deal with India will immediately cut tariffs on Scottish distillers in half – from 150% to 75% and eventually to just 40% over the next decade.

The food and soft drinks industry will also get a boost as Scotland’s export economy ramps up across the country.

In the US Tariffs on British steel and aluminium will be removed.

In addition to vital assurances for life science, there are reductions for the automotive industry with US tariffs cut from 27.5% to 10% for 100,000 vehicles every year and Indian tariffs dropping from 110% to 10% under a quota.

New reciprocal market access has also been agreed on beef – with UK farmers given a tariff free quota for 13,000 metric tonnes without compromising the sector’s high standards.

The EU deal will introduce a “youth experience scheme” for young Britons to study and live in Europe; “lower food prices at the checkout”; allow British travellers to use passport e-gates on the continent, and drive down energy bills by co-operating with Brussels.

Ahead of the meeting, Swinney said: “I will raise this issue [of winter fuel payments] with him alongside other critical issues, including our proposal for a Scottish Graduate Visa, Carbon Capture and what impacts recent trade deals will have on Scottish producers and businesses.

“We are willing to work with him and the UK Government, but the question is whether he is willing to work with Scotland and give people hope that a better future is possible.”