Winter Fuel Payment: Scottish Labour launches bid to force SNP to bring back universal entitlement

Scottish Labour has unveiled a bid to bring back the Winter Fuel Payment for thousands of pensioners.

Universal entitlement to the benefit – worth £100 to £300 – ended after the general election, when the incoming Labour administration said it could no longer afford to provide the blanket coverage.

The change, which limits eligibility to those in receipt of Pension Credit, came shortly before responsibility for the benefit in Scotland was to transfer to the Scottish Government.

Social security secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the SNP administration was forced to follow the UK Government's step due to funding issues.

Last week Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said his party will restore the benefit for thousands if it wins the next Scottish Parliament election in 2026.

Now Labour has unveiled a move to force the Scottish Government's hand even sooner.

Labour MSP Paul O'Kane has lodged a series of amendments to the Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill which, if successful, will bring back the Winter Fuel Payment "for the majority of pensioners".

A "tapering mechanism" would be brought in to limit support for those on the highest incomes.

The changes would apply from 2025-26, with the new link to Pension Credit scrapped.

MSPs will vote on the matter at the beginning of next month.

O'Kane, his party's social security spokesperson, has said failure to back the plan would be a "gross betrayal" by the SNP, which has condemned the changes to Winter Fuel Payments.

A motion by First Minister John Swinney calling for the UK Government to U-turn on the matter was supported by MSPs.

O'Kane's amendments would compel Scottish ministers to bring in new regulations to make all pensioners eligible for winter heating help before the end of November next year. They would also allow ministers to recover part or all of any payment made to people with an income over a specified amount, or living with anyone who falls into that category.

The West Scotland MSP said: "Scottish Labour has been clear that, if [we] win the 2026 election, we will reinstate the Winter Fuel Payment for thousands of pensioners – but people shouldn’t have to wait that long.

"Next week will we have an opportunity to take a different approach in Scotland and ensure that every pensioner who needs a payment gets one.

"Across the UK Labour is cleaning up the mess left behind by the Tories, but Scotland needs a change of direction too.

"The SNP has offered a lot of warm words on Winter Fuel Payments, so it would be a gross betrayal if the SNP fails to back these amendments.

"Already the SNP has failed to pass on to £41m of support intended for the most vulnerable people in Scotland this winter.

"We have the money and the powers we need – now is the time for action."

Somerville commented: "This is hypocrisy on stilts from Labour. After betraying millions of pensioners by taking away their winter fuel payment, they now expect people to believe that they can be trusted to stand up for pensioners.

"After voting against an SNP government motion calling for the Winter Fuel Payment to be reintroduced, they now demand a vote on the Winter Fuel Payment.

"And after promising that people’s energy bills would fall if they were in government, they now have to explain why bills have already risen by £150 – and are set to rise again in January.

"We really are through the looking glass here, but one thing is clear – Labour are absolutely panicking as they haemorrhage support in communities across Scotland. No matter what they say now, people know that Labour have betrayed Scotland’s pensioners and can’t be trusted."