Local constituency MSP Finlay Carson has accused the Labour Party of a “betrayal” of pensioners after it slashed winter fuel payments.
As expected the UK Government forced through the cut this week – which were worth between £100-£300 – leaving thousands of old folk in Galloway and West Dumfries worse off.
The Scottish Conservative and Unionist MSP said the winter fuel payment was a “lifeline” for many struggling pensioners in his constituency.
He 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.”
Mr Carson criticised also the SNP for following Labour’s lead by confirming they will also be cutting the payments in Scotland.
He insisted that both Labour and the SNP must “accept responsibility” for the cuts and why they have targeted pensioners in such a “shameful” way.
The MSP said: “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 and this is completely the wrong choice by Labour.
“The SNP are shamefully following Labour’s lead and they only have themselves to blame. They have mismanaged Scotland’s finances during their 17 years in power and now the effects of that are coming home to roost.”
A poll of pensioners revealed that 86 per cent of pensioners in Scotland are expected to be affected by the UK Government’s decision to cut winter fuel allowance payments.
More than half of them admitted they would likely be heating their homes less this winter, while four in ten will look to cut back on other “essentials”.
Across the UK, 11 million pensioners are set to lose out, including two million that the charity Age UK has said will struggle to afford their energy bills as a result.
The Scottish Government has been preparing to replace the winter fuel payment with a Pension Age Winter Heating Payment although the replacement has been deferred until winter 2025-26.
