DUMFRIES and Galloway Council must unite in standing up against winter fuel payments cuts, a councillor has argued this week.
Mid Galloway and West Councillor Katie Hagmann is concerned about the “grave implications” for elderly people living in the region.
She also underlined how trade union bosses have voiced their strong opposition to the removal of the payments by the UK Labour Government, warning of a rise in winter deaths.
The SNP councillor is tabling a motion at this week’s full council meeting, seconded by her colleague, Stranraer and the Rhins Councillor Ben Dashper.
It read: “Dumfries and Galloway Council recognises the grave implications of the recent cuts to winter fuel payments for our older population, with an estimated 900,000 older people across Scotland having it removed.
“With older people already facing significant challenges, the reduction of winter fuel allowance adds to this burden leading to prolonged exposure to cold temperatures and increasing financial strain.
“Council notes with concern that Unite has launched a judicial review process on behalf of the union citing their ‘belief that the government has acted unlawfully’ and its action will have a terrible effect on millions of older people in society and will likely cause an increase in cold related deaths.”
The Labour Government controversially scrapped the £200 energy bill payment for millions of senior citizens earlier this year.
MPs voted 348 to 228 to axe the payment for all but the country’s poorest pensioners, rejecting a Tory bid for the controversial policy to be blocked.
This has caused widespread anger, and the Scottish Parliament voted on October 8 on a motion calling for the UK Government to reverse this decision.
Dumfries and Galloway MP John Cooper also described the cuts to winter fuel payments are a “genuine risk to life” for pensioners.
In her motion, which will be tabled at Thursday’s full council meeting, Councillor Hagmann claimed that the UK Government’s decision to end the universal winter fuel payment to pensioners across the UK, along with the reduction in a block grant adjustment, results in the removal of up to £160 million of funding already allocated in Scotland.
She then called on all councillors to agree to lobby the UK government to “reverse this damaging UK wide policy”.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he had “every sympathy” with poorer pensioners who would struggle with their energy bills, and added: “I didn’t want to do it.”
However, the PM said the move was crucial to stabilise the economy and protect pensions from inflation, as well as to “ensure the NHS is up and running properly”.
