Pensioners freezing in Scotland don’t have time for Labour to find their principles or spines, says the Scottish Greens equalities spokesperson Maggie Chapman MSP.
Responding to Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar’s claims that he would reinstate the winter fuel payment for all pensioners if elected into government in 2026, Ms Chapman has called for both governments at Holyrood and Westminster to take action now, rather than using the lives of vulnerable groups as a “bargaining chip” for future leadership bids.
In October, MSPs across Holyrood debated a motion tabled calling on the UK Government to reverse its decision to means-test the winter fuel payment.
This means-testing will see millions of vulnerable pensioners – some of whom already live in fuel poverty but are just over the threshold for the payment by pennies – become ineligible for vital support.
Mr Sarwar led his party to vote in line with UK Labour’s stance to means-test pensioners for the winter fuel payment, with only two of his MSPs rebelling and voting against.
Ms Chapman says:
“While it is great that Mr Sarwar has back-tracked from his vote against the winter fuel payment only a few weeks ago, the idea that he would reinstate the benefit if elected in 2026 is simply not good enough.
“It is mid-November and temperatures have already plummeted below freezing.
“This time of year can be perilous to the most vulnerable groups in our country and we have to find ways to take care of them.
“The pensioners who are freezing now don’t have the time to wait for Labour politicians to find their principles or their spines – they need support in place now to tackle the exorbitant rates it costs to simply stay warm in their homes.
“There is more that the Scottish Government can and must do to support people through a long cold winter, but with household bills soaring and people freezing now, there is an immediate onus on Westminster to act.
“It is time for Anas Sarwar to stand up to Keir Starmer and call on him to reverse this cruel cut now, rather than using it as a bargaining chip to further himself in a leadership bid come election time.”
Ms Chapman added:
“Labour are continuing to reinforce the cruel Tory policies we have seen for the last 14 years.
“There are a number of ways to undo these cuts, by taxing the richest people in the UK further, by sticking to their promise to make energy bills cheaper and prioritising the lives of our citizens over the profits of energy companies to avoid plunging groups like pensioners – who have made contributions their entire lives to our systems often thanklessly – further into fuel poverty unnecessarily.”
