Politics · United Kingdom · 2 hrs ago
Swinney says pension claims issue is closed after advisers decline inquiry
Scottish First Minister John Swinney has stood by claims that changes to the pension triple lock will make Scottish pensioners lose out.
The triple lock is a policy that increases pension payments, and its removal would mean payments grow less than previously planned, not that pensions disappear.
Swinney made his remarks in the Scottish Parliament while referring to assurances made during the 2014 independence referendum.
Critics, including Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay, accused him of misleading Parliament and the public.
Swinney says his independent advisers on the ministerial code concluded there was nothing to investigate, and he considers the issue closed.
The Scottish Government has not published the advisers’ full conclusions.
Swinney says he remains committed to the triple lock and to an independent Scotland.
John Swinney said his independent advisers had found nothing to investigate over his claims about Scottish pensions and that he considers the issue closed.
The Scottish First Minister has argued that ending the pension triple lock will leave Scottish pensioners worse off.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay accused Swinney of misleading Parliament and urged him to correct the record.
The Scottish Government declined to publish the advisers’ full conclusions.
- Who
- John Swinney, Scotland’s First Minister, and his independent advisers on the ministerial code.
- What
- The advisers declined to investigate Swinney’s pension claims; he said the issue was closed.
- When
- Swinney announced the decision on 12 October 2026, according to the article.
- Where
- Scotland; the claims were made in the Scottish Parliament.
- Why
- Swinney said the advisers concluded there was nothing to investigate and that he had not breached the ministerial code.
John Swinney
Russell Findlay and critics of Swinney
Pension impact
John Swinney
Swinney says Scottish pensioners will lose out because the triple lock is being abolished.
Russell Findlay and critics of Swinney
Findlay says Swinney’s claim that Scots will lose their pensions is untrue and scaremongering.
Inquiry and correction
John Swinney
Swinney says his advisers found nothing to investigate and considers the issue closed.
Russell Findlay and critics of Swinney
Findlay says Swinney misled Parliament and should set the record straight.
Swinney said commitments were given during the independence referendum that pensions were safe with the United Kingdom.
At First Minister’s Questions, Swinney said Scotland would lose its pensions.
Swinney referred to a previous letter to Findlay dated 5 October.
Swinney said his advisers had considered the matter and found nothing to investigate.
- Advisers’ conclusion
- Nothing to investigate
- Swinney’s position
- He considers the issue closed
- Reported pension impact
- £2,000 a year in real terms on average by 2050
- Scottish Conservative leader
- Russell Findlay
- Referendum cited by Swinney
- 2014
What people are saying
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.
John Swinney misled Parliament and he knows it.
As I have stated, I am satisfied that there has been no breach of the ministerial code, and therefore consider this issue closed.
Sources
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