Strath MP welcomes new Scottish winter fuel payment from next year
The MP for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey has welcomed the boost for pensioners given by the Scottish Government’s decision to restore universal winter fuel support from next year
Earlier today Ministers announced plans to introduce a universal pension age winter heating payment for winter 25/26 ‘for every single Scottish pensioner’.
Pensioners in Scotland in receipt of benefits like Pension Credit will receive payments of £200 or £300 depending on their age, with a payment of £100 available for other households.
Local MP Graham Leadbitter (SNP) said the move proved his party ‘are providing where Labour won’t’.
He has challenged Scottish Labour MPs to support efforts in Westminster to restore the payment in full across the UK.
Mr Leadbitter said the Labour Party’s decision to means-test the payment means over 1 million Scottish pensioners are at risk of being forced whether to heat or eat, with 19,552 people affected in Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey alone.
He said the removal of the payment is a further addition to pensioner’s energy struggles.
Fuel bills are rising by 10 per cent in October and a further hike is expected in January, despite Labour’s election pledge to cut energy bills for all households.
Mr Leadbitter said: “This is great news for local pensioners who are seriously struggling with a grim combination of freezing temperatures, a lack of support from Westminster, and rising energy bills.
“Keir Starmer went into the election promising to cut energy bills.
“Instead, going into winter, he cruelly removed critical support for one of the most vulnerable groups in our society while presiding over soaring bills.
“Thankfully tens of thousands of local pensioners will receive the support they need from next year under the progressive leadership of the SNP Scottish Government.
“This is proof that the SNP are providing where Labour won’t but Scottish Labour MPs can, and should, still join us in demanding a full restoration of the payment across the UK now.
“But while the restoration of support for pensioners is great news, it yet again exposes how vulnerable Scotland is under Westminster rule with us being once again forced to pick up the tab to mitigate callous austerity cuts people here didn’t vote for.
"This sorry saga has revealed exactly why decisions over energy should be made by the people of Scotland, for the people of Scotland.
“My SNP colleagues and I have consistently stood against cuts like the ones imposed by Labour at Westminster, and we’ll continue to stand up for local people against the dire decisions of Keir Starmer’s UK government.”
