Scottish Labour Pledges to Restore Winter Fuel Payment

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has pledged to reinstate the universal winter fuel payment for all pensioners in Scotland if his party wins the 2026 Holyrood election, diverging from the UK Labour’s means-testing approach. This move aims to address public dissatisfaction following cuts to the payment, which had initially been devolved but was returned to the UK government by the SNP. Sarwar criticized the SNP for not utilizing available resources to support more households and emphasized the need for a fairer system that would taper payments for wealthier pensioners. Despite Labour's past victory in Scottish seats, recent polls indicate a drop in support for the party, with concerns that backlash over the winter fuel payment could hinder their chances against the SNP. Sarwar's announcement is seen as a desperate attempt to regain favor among voters amid rising competition from other parties. The strategy has raised questions about funding and potential discontent among pensioners in other UK regions who will not benefit from the policy.