The SNP has called on the UK Labour government to reintroduce cost of living support payments as thousands of Scottish households face soaring energy bills this Christmas.
It comes after Labour MPs from Scotland backed Rachel Reeves’ budget that robbed 900,000 Scottish pensioners of their heating bill support while energy bills soared by £149.
With vastly reduced Barnett consequentials following Labour’s cut to the Winter Fuel Payment, the SNP government has provided £20 million to the Scottish Welfare Fund, £20 million to the Warmer Homes Scotland scheme and £1 million to SFHA for tenant support.
The Scottish Government has also announced a universal winter heating payment will be provided to pensioners.
With Scots braced for freezing temperatures this Christmas, Dave Doogan MP, the SNP’s economy spokesperson, has called on Sir Keir Starmer to reinstate cost of living support payments – which were worth as much as £326 before they were stopped this year.
In October, Labour MPs blocked an SNP amendment to the GB Energy Bill to force the UK government to reduce energy bills by £300.
Commenting, Dave Doogan MP said:
“With the bookies having slashed odds on a white Christmas many Scots will be facing sky-high energy bills, which have increased under Sir Keir Starmer.
“It’s time he acted to support hard-pressed households or it’s going to be a very bleak winter.
“Sir Keir Starmer promised voters he would reduce energy bills by £300, but instead bills have gone up, with a typical household now paying £149 more a year.
“Instead of tackling the soaring cost of energy, the Labour government has made it even worse by increasing household energy bills by 10% while taking £600 in winter fuel payments from pensioners.
“Labour MPs from Scotland skipped through the voting lobbies to inflict pain on Scottish pensioners, but with the freezing temperatures descending on Scotland next week it’s imperative we see cost of living support payments reintroduced.
“The SNP Scottish Government has acted to clean up Labour’s mess and deliver a unique Scottish winter heating payment for pensioners, but voters are rightly furious that the only “change” Labour is offering has been to cut the winter fuel payment.”
