First Minister to tell Prime Minister to reinstate winter fuel payment for all
Mr Swinney said ahead of the meeting that the UK needs a national mission to raise living standards and provide people with hope that things will get easier, starting with the restoration of a Winter Fuel Payment to all pensioner households.
He said he will press for action to help people struggling with the ongoing cost of living crisis, amid increasing inflation and international economic instability, and that the first action of the UK Government must be to accept the cut to the Winter Fuel Payment was wrong, and announce a restoration so all pensioners get a payment.
The First Minister said people need to believe things can get easier and that he plans to raise specific concerns relating to Scotland's economy with the Prime Minister which could help accelerate economic growth. This includes the impact on Scotland of the recently announced UK-US trade deal, the agreement reached with the European Union, Carbon Capture and the case for a bespoke migration policy for Scotland.
Mr Swinney will be in London for a programme of meetings, including a bilateral with the Prime Minister, a multilateral with the First Minister of Wales, First Minister and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, and a plenary session of the Council of Nations and Regions.
Mr Swinney said: 'People across the UK are living through a period of huge uncertainty and for some, that is undermining the trust they have in government.
'Cutting the winter fuel payment saw the UK Government breaking promises and removing vital financial support for some of the most vulnerable in our society. Having effectively conceded the argument by announcing a partial U-turn, the Prime Minister should accept the cut was wrong and restore a universal winter fuel payment.
'In Scotland, we are introducing universal winter heating payments through our Cost of Living Guarantee. This will see payment made to all pensioner households, with the poorest receiving the most support which is fair amid ongoing pressures.
'If the UK government want to provide people with hope that things will get easier, the Prime Minister should restore the winter fuel payment as part of a new national mission to raise living standards.
'I will raise this issue with him alongside other critical issues, including our proposal for a Scottish Graduate Visa, Carbon Capture and what impacts recent trade deals will have on Scottish producers and businesses.
'We are willing to work with him and the UK Government, but the question is whether he is willing to work with Scotland and give people hope that a better future is possible.'
Like this:
Like
Related
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
8 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Hardcore Nats want to ‘dissolve the union' if Westminster blocks IndyRef2
They rejected a strategy by the First Minister INDY REBELS Hardcore Nats want to 'dissolve the union' if Westminster blocks IndyRef2 Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NATS rebels want MSPs to 'dissolve' the Union if Westminster blocks their path to independence. The hardliners insist talks on a UK split must start if pro-indy parties win a majority of List votes at next May's Holyrood election. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Sign up 4 Hardcore Nats reckon the Union should be "dissolved" if pro-Indy parties get a majority of List MSPs Credit: Alamy 4 They rejected John Swinney's strategy Credit: PA 4 Longtime party activist Graeme McCormick is one of the people behind the strategy Credit: Graeme McCormick They have rejected John Swinney's strategy and instead want the party to back their hardline tactic. Mr Swinney said last month that a majority of SNP seats at May's Scottish Parliament election would be a mandate for a second referendum. But the rebel group of 43 branches want Holyrood to begin negotiations on leaving the UK if half of voters back any pro-independence party - meaning the SNP, Scottish Greens, Alba or any other nationalist candidate. If Westminster refuses to acknowledge this approach then Holyrood should immediately 'dissolve the union', they say. It comes despite a landmark Supreme Court judgement in 2022 which effectively ruled out any legal path to independence other than a referendum agreed to by Westminster. Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: 'This spat just demonstrates how out of touch John Swinney and the SNP are with ordinary Scots. 'Under the nationalists, our public services are in meltdown and taxes are sky high. "But instead of fixing the mess they've created, they're fighting about how best to push their independence obsession. 'John Swinney should stop fixating on tearing up the UK and focus on his day job.' Alastair Cameron, chair of Scotland in Union, said: 'Imagine if the SNP spent as much time exploring how to save the NHS rather than fighting over different wheezes for an unwanted second referendum.' Five moments you missed from a weekend with Donald Trump in Scotland The SNP 'Group of 43' has submitted a motion for approval by the SNP's conference committee which states: 'Conference instructs the Party to prioritise obtaining a mandate from the sovereign Scottish people to deliver independence. 'This will be possible by achieving a majority of the popular vote on the sum of the Independence Supporting Parties' List Votes in the 2026 Scottish parliamentary election.' Longtime party activist Graeme McCormick, one of the people behind the strategy, told The Herald: 'As you can imagine in the SNP, there are lots of views on how to achieve independence. A few of us who have been involved in the movement for a long time came together to propose this plan. 'If we get a majority of pro-independence votes on the list, we'll open negotiations with the UK Government around independence. If the negotiations aren't successful, then we'll move to dissolve the union. It's perfectly legal to do so.' The group will meet at St Matthew's Church in Perth to 'plan strategic amendments' and 'decide together how we take this initiative forward.' An invitation to the meeting stated: 'We are done asking for referenda. Never again will we accept a Scottish SNP leader or First Minister going cap in hand to Westminster for permission to leave the Union. That time is past.' Kenny MacAskill, leader of the Alba Party and a former member of the radical '79 Group' that dragged the SNP to the left under Alex Salmond, said he 'recognised and welcomed the old radical fire that still exsits within the SNP membership'. He said: 'They are now way ahead of the SNP leadership on the question of delivering independence.'
The Sun
9 minutes ago
- The Sun
Labour's border chaos is fuelling public fury and fear as dangerous foreign offenders vanish into thin air
Labour's not smashing it IT is little more than a year since Labour came to power promising to smash the people-smuggling gangs. Instead they have smashed the economy — with inflation up, unemployment up and business confidence at a record low. The only significant growth is in the number of illegal migrants coming here in small boats. Already over 25,000 have arrived this year — a 50 per cent rise on the 2024 figure by this stage, which was shocking enough. That number is dwarfed by the UK's astonishing 700,000 population increase in just a year — almost entirely due to legal immigration — which itself is utterly unsustainable. The arrival of thousands of mostly undocumented illegal migrants is symptomatic of just how badly Britain has lost control of its borders. It's not just the millions of pounds it costs taxpayers every day to shower the migrants with handouts and put them up in hotels, nor the fact that so many of them find black market jobs. Most of the arrivals are young men of fighting age — yet the authorities seem to have little idea who they are, even if they end up in court. National emergency We discovered earlier this week that the number of foreign sex offenders and violent criminals in prison in England and Wales is at a record high, and that 40 per cent of people charged with sex attacks in the capital were foreign nationals. Now we learn foreign criminals are simply walking free mid-trial and disappearing under false names because of a dangerous 'disconnect' between prosecutors and immigration enforcement. It is little wonder that people — not least mothers — worry about migrant hotels on their doorsteps, or that protests are growing, or that polls show immigration is the number one issue concerning voters. So what is the Government doing about this national emergency? Reform UK's rising star Laila Cunningham It seems to have no plan, beyond a sketchy one-in-one-out deal with France and setting up a spy unit to track anyone on social media discussing anti-migrant sentiment or two-tier justice. While Britain continues to house soaring numbers of uninvited guests in four-star hotels, America has seen a massive drop in illegal border crossings because tough detention centres and deportations await those who do. President Donald Trump has shown the problem CAN be tackled, if only the political will exists. The Government, which ditched the Rwanda scheme — the only viable deterrent — as its first act in power, has shown precious little will so far. It's about time Sir Keir Starmer realised the urgency of the situation... and started taking tough action of his own. 1
Times
9 minutes ago
- Times
Yvette Cooper accused of blocking investigation into ‘police rapists'
The home secretary Yvette Cooper has been accused of ignoring victims by blocking an independent investigation into allegations of rape by police officers. This week five women, who were exploited by grooming gangs as children, claimed they were also sexually abused by officers in Rotherham at the time. Two of them said they were raped in the back of police cars, and told they would be handed back to the gang if they did not comply. The home secretary has resisted calls to set up a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation into police officers and other officials since January, Nick Timothy MP, a former Number 10 chief of staff, claimed on Friday. South Yorkshire police is investigating, but critics said they were 'shocked' the force had been trusted to investigate its own staff, citing 'cover-up after cover-up'. Lawyers for the victims said they were being 'retraumatised' by the process, or simply 'refuse to report' to the force that treated them so badly. One of the victims, known as Amy, said 'requests to hand over the investigation to another, independent, police [force] … have been repeatedly rejected'. Three arrests have been made, but no charges brought. The first allegation of child rape against an officer dates back ten years. The Times understands another victim has made allegations of sexual abuse against a Greater Manchester police officer. The lawyers said their clients have named a further four South Yorkshire police officers as alleged perpetrators. Timothy said a specialist NCA unit must be set up to investigate police officers and other officials who facilitated or carried out grooming crimes. 'It is harrowing that, ten years after allegations of rape were first levelled at police officers, not a single one has been brought to justice,' he said. 'These are claims of child rape in police cars and dealing of drugs used to coerce victims. This could not be more serious. Forces cannot investigate themselves. Yvette Cooper must reconsider her position.' Professor Alexis Jay, whose public inquiry found there were 1,400 child victims of grooming gangs in Rotherham, said she was 'shocked' that South Yorkshire police was being allowed to investigate its own officers. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, has also written to Cooper to ask for an independent investigation. • How the child sex grooming gangs scandal unfolded over 20 years Another victim said a police officer had threatened to hand her over to the grooming gang if she did not have sex with him. 'I would rather be raped once, or give one man oral sex, than to be taken somewhere where I know it'd be 15, 20 guys one after another. That was just easier,' she said. Allegations against officers emerged during the 2016 trial of the Rotherham gang. This included a claim that ringleader Basharat Hussain had 'somebody from CID' on the payroll 'so he wouldn't get busted'. The unknown detective had also divulged to him the location of a safe house being used to protect a vulnerable girl. In a separate case, a 12-year-old in a residential home said she tried to report her abuse to another police officer, but instead was driven down a country lane, called a liar and her paperwork was ripped up in front of her. Allegations against police officers in the northwest were allegedly 'buried'. Maggie Oliver, a former Greater Manchester police officer turned whistleblower, said she had been told to halt her investigation in 2004 into a suspected child rapist because he was still serving in the force and under internal investigation. When she returned to work after a period of compassionate leave 'the whole job had been buried', she said earlier this year. The victim, Steph, told a Channel 4 documentary 'there wasn't any doubt' that the car had picked her up, and taken her to a flat where she was raped for two days. An investigation by the the Independent Office for Police Conduct into allegations against 47 police officers resulted in two written warnings and no prosecutions. Whistleblowers labelled the 2022 result 'another chapter in the failure for the survivors' and revealed a litany of investigation failings, including lost documents and dysfunctional leadership. Sammy Woodhouse, who was groomed by the Rotherham gang and became pregnant, said: 'They've known about this for 12 years. It's cover-up after cover-up.' The survivor, whose testimony to the late Times reporter Andrew Norfolk in 2013 helped lead to Jay's public inquiry, added: 'It's certainly no secret that, in my hometown of Rotherham, police officers were directly involved with rape gangs.' The BBC reported that one woman in the ongoing case, known as Willow, identified PC Hassan Ali as having raped her. 'The first time, he literally said: 'You do it for the other officer. So you're gonna do it for me',' she said. Ali was also one of the main officers on Woodhouse's case, and one day turned up at her parents' home and 'asked me on a date', she said this week. The police watchdog, then called the IPCC, had opened an investigation into five allegations including corruption, and he was put on restricted duties on the day he was hit by a car in January 2015. He died a week later at the age of 44. At his inquest it emerged that Ali was considered a 'community elder' by the university student who ran him over. He was accused of leaking information from the police computer system. Woodhouse also said he attended 'pop and crisp' nights for children, where he met one of his victims. He allegedly helped to arrange a deal in which a grooming gangster handed over an abused girl, 14, to authorities at a petrol station, after being promised he would not be arrested. Arshid Hussain was found guilty of abduction over the incident. Woodhouse accused a second officer of 'buying drugs from my rapist'. She said the failure to properly investigate was 'absolutely despicable'. Amy Clowrey of Switalskis Solicitors, which represents the five women alongside dozens of other Rotherham victims, said 'the lack of progress is exhausting'. 'For seven years we thought they were handling it,' she said, referring to the allegations that emerged in 2016. 'We were waiting for the day when they said they arrested and charged this person, and it just never came.' She wrote to the IOPC and the NCA with allegations in June 2022, but it took more than two years for an arrest to be made. 'It's shocking that they didn't do anything about it [until 2024] … We've been constantly chasing,' she said. Jay said it was 'very hard to see the justification' for South Yorkshire police to investigate its own officers. 'It would have been cleaner all round to simply ask another police to investigate this.' Hayley Barnett, assistant chief constable of South Yorkshire police, said she was 'acutely aware of how profoundly difficult, if not impossible' it is for victims to report to her force. 'Our detectives, under the direction of the IOPC, have always taken prompt action when they have received information linked to this investigation, including information from solicitors,' she said. 'The enquiries carried out have been extensive and complex, and we have worked hard, and without fear or favour, to obtain relevant information from third parties in our pursuit for justice.' The IOPC said they are 'satisfied that there is no conflict of interest' from South Yorkshire police investigating its own officers. Greater Manchester police said: 'Some information has recently been raised that was not previously disclosed to the investigation at the time. We are therefore re-visiting these serious allegations and are speaking to any relevant witnesses.' A Home Office spokesman said a new national police operation, led by the NCA, would 'ensure that every historic case is fully investigated, that the perpetrators are put behind bars, and that the victims of these appalling crimes receive the justice they deserve.'
