A Stornoway councillor has launched a petition calling on the UK Government to reverse its decision to scrap winter fuel payments to most pensioners.
Gordon Murray has launched his petition online and it can also be found in a number of shops across the islands.
The petition states the cut to the winter fuel payments (which could impact an estimated 5,500 islanders) will have a “disproportionate effect on our pensioners in the Western Isles both socially and economically given our inclement weather, one of the highest rates of fuel poverty in our locality and our elderly demographic.”
It demands the UK Government “re-implements the payment for those pensioners in the
Western Isles with immediate effect.”
Cllr Murray stated: "This is going to hit our elderly harder than most parts of the
country given out weather conditions and energy prices and I am asking for support
to call on the UK Government to take into consideration our situation and re-implement
the cut for Hebridean pensioners."
The SNP councillor also intends to put forward a motion Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s formal meeting on Wednesday urging the local authority to “add its voice to support all those who have opposed the recent cuts to the winter fuel payment and in taking this position, the Comhairle takes fully into account the severe weather experienced in our islands especially in the winter months, the extremely high levels of fuel poverty experienced by a high proportion of elderly Western Isles residents and the large number of pensioners in our area who will be adversely affected by this cut.”
Cllr Murray said: “I hope councillors will vote to agree this and support our pensioners at this time.”
SNP activist, Chrissie Clark, who helped devise the petition said: “Cold Homes Kill. The decision to make this cut by Westminster is deplorable, and with our community’s unique challenges the consequences will be catastrophic.
“It is a shameful betrayal of the trust many of our pensioners put in the “Change” offered by Torcuil Crichton’s Labour Party and will not go unchallenged, or be quickly forgotten.
“On behalf of our elderly we demand action to mitigate the effects this ill thought out policy will have over the coming winter. As energy costs are set to rise yet again and the weather already becoming harsh, we must take action now. Please sign our petition and keep an eye out for further updates on this campaign.
“If you, or someone you know will be affected by this cut, please encourage them
to apply immediately for qualifying benefits such as Pension Credit. Visit https://apply-for-pension-credit.service.gov.uk
or contact Citizen’s Advice on 01851 705727, Monday to Friday.”
The online petition can be found at www.change.org.
Petition to save winter fuel payments for Western Isles pensioners
28 September 2024
