MORE than 32,000 older people in Dumfries and Galloway will lose their winter fuel payment, it has emerged.
Following the controversial decision by the UK Labour Government to axe the payment, the Scottish Parliament information centre, SPICe, have calculated that 16,476 in the Dumfriesshire constituency will be affected and 15,915 in Galloway and West Dumfries.
As a result, politicians locally have blasted the Government, saying it’s a “betrayal” which will leave thousands of old folk in this region worse off.
Galloway and West Dumfries MSP Finlay Carson said: “Dumfries and Galloway has one of the highest number of people affected in this country.
“The situation is made worse with many properties off the grid while others are poorly insulated as a direct result of their traditional construction.
“Make no mistake, Labour’s decision represents a total betrayal of pensioners in my constituency.”
He further criticised the SNP for following Labour’s lead by confirming they will also be cutting the payments in Scotland, adding: “They promised to keep these payments during the election but have now disgracefully ditched that pledge.
“This will have a devastating impact on thousands of pensioners. These payments were a lifeline for many of them.”
Meanwhile, Dumfries and Galloway MP John Cooper believes the decision poses a “genuine risk to life” for pensioners.
He said: “This is wrong-headed and it’s hard to overstate the potential damage caused by Labour’s decision to slash winter fuel payments for pensioners.
“During the debate, I said I thought I could count the number of millionaire pensioner households in Dumfries and Galloway on one hand. But even so – better five millionaire households get the payment than one genuinely needy household goes without this winter.
“And the SNP position is bizarre. Their MPs voted against the cut in the Commons, while their Holyrood colleagues are pushing through this damaging policy.
“Sir Keir Starmer’s mask has slipped. He talks about his ‘government of service’ but it’s a self-service, all-you-can-spend buffet he and his Chancellor are serving to union barons.
“Meanwhile pensioners who have done the right thing by saving for their retirement are being punished.”
