Scottish government to restore winter fuel payments
While the Scottish government announces plans to restore winter fuel payments for all pensioners next year, Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour government has taken a starkly different approach. Despite election promises to cut energy bills, Labour removed critical support for some of the most vulnerable in society and cut the winter fuel benefits for over 10 million pensioners.
Rachel Reeves’s budget offered no relief from the soaring cost-of-living crisis either. Instead, it delivered prolonged higher interest rates and inflation, compounding the struggles of ordinary households.
Adding to the plight Labour’s much-vaunted pledge to reduce energy costs has failed to materialise. Instead, fuel bills rose by 10% in October, with another hike expected in January. These betrayals highlight a pattern: election promises made, only to be broken.
Unbelievably this bad policy was forced on the nation without an impact assessment.
Ministers did not carry out a specific impact assessment on the withdrawal of the winter fuel payment from the bulk of pensioners, such as the potential effect on illness and death rates among older people, Downing Street has said.
After days of No 10 refusing to comment, Keir Starmer’s deputy spokesperson said the only assessment made before the policy announcement was a standard legal one of potential equalities impacts.
Asked to confirm that there had been no wider assessment to try to establish how many affected pensioners may face health vulnerabilities, and could thus be at risk, she said: “That’s right.”
In 2017, under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, Labour’s own impact assessment warned that if there were Tory cuts to winter fuel payments it could lead to 4,000 pensioner deaths.
Rachel Reeves stated the reason for the winter fuel allowance cut was due to an economic Blackhole left by the Tories…Let’s not forget Rachel Reeves’ chilling promise from 2014 to be “tougher than the Conservatives” on benefits. Well, congratulations, Ms Reeves. You’ve outdone even the Tories in your zeal to punish the poor.
Scottish government reinstates winter fuel allowance for pensioners after Labour scrapped it
In contrast, the Scottish government has decided to act decisively. Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville announced plans to ensure every pensioner in Scotland receives a winter heating payment starting next year. She described this move as essential to “protect our pensioners from the harsh reality of a Labour government.”
What the Scottish Government is Doing:
- Universal Winter Heating Payment: From winter 2025/26, every Scottish pensioner will receive this payment.
- Current Support: Those already receiving pension credit or other benefits will continue to receive £200–£300 next year. Others will receive a reduced payment of £100.
- Additional Support Measures: An extra £20 million will be allocated to the Scottish Welfare Fund and Warmer Homes Scotland this financial year.
Somerville emphasized that these measures were necessary to “mitigate” decisions made by Westminster. She lamented:
“We have not taken this decision lightly, given the significant pressures on the Scottish government’s budget, but this Scottish government is determined to stay true to our values. On our watch, we will treat people in this country with fairness, dignity, and respect.”
A Stark Contrast
While Labour continues to abandon pensioners, the Scottish government is stepping up to fill the void. Somerville concluded with a pointed reminder: “We will not abandon older people this winter, or any winter, and we will continue to protect our pensioners from the harsh reality of a UK Labour government.”
The question remains: if Scotland can find a way to support its pensioners despite budget constraints, why can’t Westminster?
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