By Lucy Ashton

The two months in office Labour Government’s decision to introduce means testing for the Winter Fuel Payment must be reversed, according to MSPs.

Following a debate as part of Challenge Poverty Week, the Scottish Parliament voted in favour of a motion that the UK Government reverse its decision to restrict entitlement to the benefit.

Only 14 MSPs voted against including Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie and her boss Anas Sarwar, the shadow First Minister, who insisted Labour had not alternative in light of the £22 million black hole in the economy left by the ousted UK Tory party, who look now certain to replace Rishi Sunak with James Cleverly.

Baillie and Sarwar had initially come out against this austere measure which could lead to old people requiring hospital treatment for hypothermia and possibly even leading to some of them dying.

First Minister John Swinney said that as a result of this “damaging decision,” Scottish Government analysis indicates roughly 900,000 Scottish pensioners will no longer be entitled to support with heating costs this winter.

First Minister John Swinney, Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie and Anas Sarwar.

Commenting after the debate, the First Minister said: “More austerity is not the solution to the restrictive fiscal environment in which the UK Government, and governments across the globe, find themselves.

“It is a mistake to think that action to tackle poverty for our most vulnerable citizens are costs to be mitigated. These measures are investments in our people, our communities and our nation’s future. I have urged the UK Government to deliver an Autumn Budget that recognises this reality.

“Scotland’s Parliament has spoken, and I repeat my call for the UK Government to reverse its damaging decision to restrict entitlement to Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners.

“The Scottish Government will continue to support households with their energy bills and tackle fuel poverty. However the UK Government must ensure their budget in October provides the necessary support to those who need it most.”

Meanwhile, new research from Age UK indicates four in every five pensioners living below or just above the poverty line will miss out on this year’s Winter Fuel Payment under the planned benefit cut. The charity said its analysis suggested 10.7 million pensioners will lose the benefit, of whom almost one in four (23%) live in poverty, or just above the poverty line.

The charity found 80 per cent, some 800,0000 of pensioners aged 80 and over living in poverty or just above the poverty line will no longer receive the payment, as well as 78 per cent (1.1m) of pensioners with a disability living in the same circumstances. The study also suggests 76 per cent (1m) who live alone will no longer receive the payment of up to £300.

It is calling for the UK Government to issue the payments to all pensioners this winter, pending the Spending Review in the Spring.

Age UK said the Government must at the “very least” urgently bring in measures to expand the numbers of those who will still receive it by automatically giving it to those receiving Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance and Carers Allowance.

According to the Labour Government’s own equality analysis, an estimated 780,000 pensioners still eligible to receive the Winter Fuel Payment will lose it under the eligibility rule change.

The full text of the First Minister’s opening speech given to Parliament on Tuesday 8 October 2024.