Scottish Labour pledge to reverse Starmer's winter fuel payment cut if they take over in Holyrood

Scottish Labour have promised to go against the national party and reintroduce the universal winter fuel payment for pensioners.

Shortly after winning the UK-wide general election, Sir Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the winter fuel payment would now be means tested.

Instead of every pensioner getting up to £300, only those entitled to certain benefits will get the stipend - thought to be around 1.3 million households, compared to 7.6 million before.

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They did this to save money and fill the £22bn "black hole" in the public finances they claim the Conservatives left.

Before this announcement was made, the plan in Scotland - where benefits are devolved - was to replace the payment with a like-for-like scheme.

However, the SNP-run Scottish government has since said it needs to means test the new programme as a consequence of the UK's policy.

With Scottish Labour aiming to take control of Holyrood at the 2026 election, the party is now pledging to go against a policy set by its own UK-wide government.

Anas Sarwar, the leader of Labour in Scotland, says universal payments for pensioners will be introduced if he takes over - although they will eventually be tapered so those with the money to pay don't get subsidised by the taxpayer.

He also claimed that extra money was made available to the SNP for the winter payment but was not used.

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Mr Sarwar said: "A Scottish Labour government will reinstate the winter fuel payment for pensioners in Scotland.

"The winter fuel payment was supposed to be a devolved benefit this year and there were additional resources available to the Scottish government through the household support fund.

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"That meant we could have taken a different approach in Scotland to support more households this year - instead, the SNP decided to hand the power back to the DWP.

"For months I have said that the eligibility criterion of pension credit is too low and called for a Scottish solution to this issue."

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He added: "That's why Scottish Labour will take back this devolved power from the DWP, reinstate the winter fuel payment, and deliver a fairer system to ensure that everyone who needs support gets it.

"A UK Labour government is clearing up the mess left by a chaotic Tory government - here in Scotland, people are demanding a new direction and in 2026 we have the opportunity to deliver it with a Scottish Labour government."