Over two thirds of Scots say Scottish Government wrong to cut winter fuel payment

 A SENSATIONAL poll has heaped pressure on the Scottish Government to mitigate the Labour UK Government cut to Winter Fuel payments. 

Chancellor Rachel Reeves dropped the axe on over 10 million pensioners who will lose upto £300 of Winter Fuel Payments this year. Close to one million pensioners in Scotland are also set to lose their winter support after the SNP Scottish Government - who have responsibility for the payment north of the border - decided to follow to the UK Government by means testing the payment. 

In a new survey commissioned by Alba Party and carried out by British Polling Council member FindOutNow over two thirds of Scots said that the Scottish Government was wrong to copy Westminster by bringing an end to universal entitlement and that the Holyrood Government should step in to fund the payments. 

Of 1068 adults surveyed in Scotland this week 69.7% said that the Scottish Government was wrong to follow the UK Government and should allocate the funding to maintain universal entitlement to winter fuel payments in Scotland for all pensioners. The poll also showed that nearly two thirds of both SNP and Labour voters at the General Election also believe the decision to cut the payments was wrong and want to see funding to reinstate it. 

Alba Party have been campaigning to Save the Winter Fuel Payment since the UK and Scottish Governments made the decision to cut entitlement. Former First Minister and Alba Party leader Alex Salmond was supporting a legal challenge against the decision to cut the payment before he died suddenly in Macedonia last month. 

Alba Party Holyrood leader Ash Regan MSP said: 

“Westminster's recent budget again proves that the Exchequer continues to exploit Scotland's energy wealth while overlooking our communities and businesses, regardless of the party in power. I have offered the government reasonable and innovative solutions to focus on protecting Scotland's vulnerable pensioners this winter. Over two thirds of Scots think the Scottish Government was wrong to mirror the Westminster Winter Fuel Payment Cut and that universal entitlement should continue in Scotland. 

“I am hopeful the Scottish Government will continue to work constructively with the ALBA Party, including to protect our vulnerable pensioners this winter as part of the upcoming Scottish budget.”