Scottish ministers to announce help for pensioners’ fuel bills

Last week, Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, appeared to distance himself from his London colleagues when he announced he would expand eligibility for the winter fuel payment if his party were to form the next Scottish government.

Under the party’s plans, all pensioners would receive a payment via a devolved benefit, though it would be tapered so that the wealthiest households received less.

Sarwar said his proposals would “deliver a fairer system that guarantees everyone who needs support gets it”.

He said all pensioners would receive the benefit – which is currently either £200 or £300 – without having to apply, but that better-off Scots would pay some of it back.

“A good way of thinking about it is how child benefit currently operates,” the Scottish Labour leader told BBC Scotland.

“[It is] widely viewed as a universal payment for everyone, but when it goes beyond a certain income threshold a taper is then applied,” he said.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously defended his decision to cut winter fuel payments.

He said an increase in the state pension – which is set to rise by £460 per year in April – would “outstrip” losses for those who will not receive the winter fuel payment.