Swinney Defends Pension Claims Amid Criticism, Advisers Find No Investigation Needed

First Minister John Swinney has reiterated his assertion that Scottish pensions are at risk due to the removal of the triple lock, stating that his independent advisers on the ministerial code have determined there is "nothing to investigate." Swinney faced criticism for claiming in the Scottish Parliament that individuals in Scotland could "lose our pensions" following reforms announced by Prime Minister Andy Burnham, with opponents accusing him of intentionally misleading the public.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay criticized Swinney's stance, asserting that the First Minister had misled Parliament and should correct the record. "He should set the record straight instead of crowing that he has supposedly not breached the ministerial code," Findlay stated. "John Swinney resorted to scaremongering by telling Scots they’ll lose their pensions. He knows this is untrue but refuses to correct the record."

Swinney's initial remarks were made during First Minister's Questions, where he argued that promises made during the 2014 independence referendum regarding pension security within the United Kingdom were now "under attack" by a Westminster Labour government. He stated, "It demonstrates that what the people of Scotland were told in 2014 was a lot of absolute rubbish. We have been taken out of the European Union, we are now going to lose our pensions. Scotland needs to have independence."

Critics countered that Swinney was spreading misinformation, arguing that the removal of the pension triple lock would affect the growth of payments rather than putting any pension at risk.

In a letter to Findlay, Swinney confirmed that his advisers had reviewed the matter and concluded "that there is nothing to investigate." He added, "As I have stated, I am satisfied that there has been no breach of the ministerial code, and therefore consider this issue closed."

The Scottish Government declined to publish the full conclusions of the First Minister's independent advisers, citing a policy of not commenting on recommendations to third parties as a "matter of propriety."

In a separate communication to Presiding Officer Kenneth Gibson, Swinney defended his previous statements, which indicated a potential financial impact of £2,000 per year in real terms on average by 2050 due to the abolition of the triple lock. He refused to retract these statements, stating, "I now consider this matter closed."

When questioned by the Press Association, Swinney maintained that "Scottish pensioners are going to lose out as a consequence of the abolition of the triple lock, and that’s the blunt point that I’m making." He acknowledged this might be "uncomfortable for some of my political rivals to come to terms with, but that’s the reality of what’s going to happen."

Regarding an independent Scotland, Swinney expressed his commitment to the triple lock and to serving as the first prime minister of an independent Scotland. "People should be in no doubt that I’m committed to the triple lock," he stated, though he did not explicitly commit to including it in a written constitution.

Scottish Labour parliamentary business spokesman Claire Baker criticized Swinney's continued defense of his claims. "Despite repeatedly being told his claims are false, John Swinney has chosen to double down to try and mislead and scare people," Baker said. "Independent experts like the IFS have already called this out, but the First Minister ploughs on regardless. It’s beneath him and his office. John Swinney is choosing to put party ahead of country, playing to his base and feeding into a narrative of grievance rather than seeking to work with other parties constructively. The people of Scotland deserve honesty from their politicians – not deceit and sleight of hand from the First Minister."