Scotland has decided to give back all pensioners the winter fuel allowance (Image: PA, Getty )
Rachel Reeves is feeling the heat as her embattled policy to slash winter fuel payments has now come under pressure from north of the border and unions.
The Scottish Government has announced every pensioner in Scotland will receive a winter heating payment next year despite millions now being unable to claim it in the rest of the UK.
Today Scottish Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville announced the Holyrood administration will ensure every pensioner receives a payment next year.
Under the plans, those in receipt of pension credit or other benefits and who have received a £200 or £300 payment this year will get the same next year through the devolved scheme. All other pensioners will receive a reduced payment of £100.
And Labour-friendly union Unite has also piled in on Ms Reeves cuts by saying it will challenge the Government in the courts. Unite claims Labour did not follow the correct procedure in making the decision to axe winter fuel payments, which will see around 10 million pensioners miss out on the benefit.
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Scottish authorities have voted to restore the payments for pensioners north of the border (Image: Getty )
The union had threatened legal action earlier in November and announced today that it had applied to the High Court for leave to proceed with a full judicial review after receiving an “unsatisfactory” response to its demand that the Government reverse its decision.
Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary, said: “Labour’s decision to pick the pocket of pensioners was wrong on every level. The government has been given every opportunity to reverse its decision and it has failed to do so.
“This is a rushed, ill-thought-out policy and the government clearly failed to follow the proper legal measures before executing it. With winter approaching the courts must now hold the government to account and reverse this cruel cut as quickly as possible.”
The union said it hoped the court would grant an urgent hearing on its case in the context of “worsening weather conditions and dropping temperatures”.
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Millions of pensioners are facing losing their winter fuel payments this year (Image: Getty )
In Scotland, Social Justice Secretary Ms Somerville also announced a further £20million for the Scottish Welfare Fund and the same amount for Warmer Homes Scotland in this financial year.
The Scottish Government, she said, has been forced to “mitigate” decisions made by the UK Government, adding: “There has been change, but that change is that we are now mitigating against a Labour Government and not a Tory one.
“We have not taken this decision lightly, given the significant pressures on the Scottish Government’s budget, but this Scottish Government is determined to stay true to our values. On our watch, we will treat people in this country with fairness, dignity and respect.
“We will not abandon older people this winter, or indeed any winter, and we will continue to protect our pensioners from the harsh reality of a UK Labour Government.”