Keith Brown MSP, Member of the Scottish Parliament for Clackmannanshire & Dunblane, has highlighted that pensioners across his constituency have now begun receiving payments from the SNP Scottish Government’s Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.
With temperatures dropping sharply across Clackmannanshire and Stirling this week, the support is arriving at a crucial time. The help will be especially important this winter as energy bills have risen by around £200 since the UK Labour Government took office – despite Labour promising to cut bills by £300.
In total, around 880,000 pensioners across Scotland will receive this support thanks to SNP Government action.
Commenting, Keith said:
“Temperatures have dropped sharply this week and it is hugely welcome that pensioners across both Clackmannanshire and Stirling are now receiving this vital support to help them heat their homes this winter.
“Most people will receive their payment automatically, with no action required, which is exactly how it should be.
“One of Keir Starmer’s first acts in government was to slash winter heating support for pensioners last year. The SNP stepped in to ensure that pensioners in Scotland wouldn’t lose out this winter before Starmer eventually performed one of the many U-turns which have characterised his time in office.
“Starmer came to power on the back of a promise to slash energy bills. Instead, they have spiralled out of control with bills now nearly £500 higher than we were promised.
“It is a scandal that pensioners in Scotland pay some of the highest bills in Europe despite having vast natural energy resources on their doorsteps. The SNP will always do all it can to support them, but this shows why Scotland needs the fresh start of independence so that we can use these resources to cut bills.”
Keith Brown MSP 