The Scottish National Party (SNP) has condemned the UK government’s decision to cut the winter fuel allowance and maintain the controversial two-child benefit cap, accusing Labour of making life harder for Scotland’s most vulnerable residents.
The SNP claims that 900,000 Scottish pensioners have been “robbed” of their winter heating payments, just as energy bills have risen by £149.
The party also blasted the government for “cancelling Christmas for Scotland’s most vulnerable children” by keeping the two-child benefit cap in place, a policy introduced by the Conservatives seven years ago.
The SNP estimates that this cap is costing affected Scottish families £4,300 annually.
Scotland’s finance secretary, Shona Robison, recently announced plans to scrap the two-child benefit cap in Scotland, which she believes will help lift 15,000 children out of poverty.
Collette Stevenson, SNP MSP and chair of the Social Justice Committee in the Scottish Parliament, labelled the cap as “abhorrent” and promised to remove it, highlighting that this would provide a much-needed lifeline to vulnerable families.
As part of their response, the SNP also called for the restoration of the winter fuel allowance for all pensioners.
The UK government’s decision to reduce access to this benefit, which is means-tested, has been met with significant criticism.
In contrast, the SNP government in Scotland has pledged to provide pensioners with a “universal winter heating payment” to ensure they are supported during the colder months.
SNP MSP Dave Doogan criticised the Labour government for exacerbating the energy crisis, stating that the party’s actions had resulted in a 10% rise in energy bills while simultaneously cutting £600 from pensioners’ winter fuel payments.
He added that, with the odds of a white Christmas reportedly increasing, many Scots are facing rising energy costs, and it’s crucial for the government to act to support struggling households.
The UK government defended its position, citing the state of public finances and the devolution of “significant social security powers” to the Scottish Parliament since 2016, stating that the two-child cap cannot be overturned at this time.
The SNP’s proposals, however, continue to spark debate, with many arguing that Scotland’s most vulnerable populations deserve greater support, especially during the harsh winter months.
