Latest news with #CostofLivingGuarantee
The National
26-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Hamilton commuters 'save hundreds of pounds' thanks to SNP, says FM
The First Minister said voters in the area, who are due to go to the polls on June 5 to elect a new MSP after the death of Christina McKelvie, could save around £900 a year from the policy decision. Swinney announced peak rail fares will be scrapped in September during his Programme for Government in May, held early to mark a year out from the Holyrood 2026 election. But with the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election looming, Swinney said the SNP was 'putting money' in voters' pockets while Labour scrapped essential benefits like the Winter Fuel Payment. READ MORE: Angela Rayner won't say if she thinks Israel is breaking international law The SNP said that the main destination station for passengers travelling to or from Hamilton Central is Glasgow Central. Currently, an anytime day return between Glasgow Central and Hamilton Central is £9.20 and an off-peak day return is £6.00. Glasgow Central is also the main destination station for passengers travelling to or from Larkhall. An anytime day return from there is £11.20 and an off peak return is £7.70. Following the SNP government's decision to scrap peak rail fares for good from September, someone commuting five days every week from Hamilton Central to Glasgow Central will save over £760 a year from September. Someone with the same commute from Larkhall station will save £910, the party said. 'The SNP is taking action to cut costs and ease financial pressures amid the cost of living crisis,' Swinney said. (Image: Mike Boyd) 'Scrapping peak rail fares is a critical part of my Cost of Living Guarantee that will save commuters hundreds of pounds. "Alongside SNP policies like free tuition, free prescriptions and the most generous childcare offer in the UK we are supporting people when they need it most and putting more money in people's pockets. 'Labour meanwhile took away the Winter Fuel Payment from over 36,000 pensioners in South Lanarkshire, have allowed energy bills to rise by over £200 and cut £5 billion of support for disabled people. 'Unlike the Labour Party, the SNP is always on your side; taking action on what matters to people in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse and across Scotland.' Katy Loudon, the SNP candidate for the by-election, said: 'Too many households in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse have borne the brunt of the cost of living crisis, with the UK Labour government presiding over rampant inflation and soaring energy bills. READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon says Supreme Court ruling 'massively misinterpreted' 'In Scotland, the SNP is bringing costs down for people, with policies like free bus travel for 2.3 million people, bringing back the Winter Fuel Payment and scrapping peak rail fares. 'The Labour Party has lost its way, but this SNP government is delivering on what matters to you. 'Vote SNP on 5th June for a cheaper commute and to put your priorities first.' It comes after Scottish Labour's by-election candidate was accused of being unable to 'string a handful of words together' after he refused to take part in an STV by-election date. READ MORE: JK Rowling to fund gender-critical women's cases against employers Labour also failed to disclose that candidate Davy Russell previously worked for a scandal-hit company, prompting questions about transparency. He was previously a consultant to a subsidiary of Mears Group in North Lanarkshire. Last year it was alleged that Mears Scotland LLP had falsified at least 13,000 maintenance records, after a whistleblower reported the firm to the local authority's auditors.
The Herald Scotland
25-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Hamilton by-election: Farage to visit before vote
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is expected to visit the constituency ahead of the vote on June 5. The vote is taking place following the death aged 57 of the local MSP and Scottish Government minister Christina McKelvie in March this year. The First Minister said official figures show the government's decision to scrap peak rail fares - made under the government's Cost of Living Guarantee - could save rail commuters in the constituency hundreds of pounds every year. READ MORE: 'The SNP are terrified': 'Reform can win by-election - and take power in Holyrood' Analysis: Reform support in Hamilton should worry other parties Hundreds of care staff to go on strike over £38 million government U turn Update on winter fuel payments to more pensioners expected in coming weeks The main destination station for passengers travelling to or from Hamilton Central is Glasgow Central. Currently, an anytime day return between Glasgow Central and Hamilton Central is £9.20 and an off-peak day return is £6.00. Glasgow Central is also the main destination station for passengers travelling to or from Larkhall. An anytime day return from there is £11.20 and an off peak return is £7.70. Following the Scottish Government's decision to scrap peak rail fares for good from September, someone commuting five days every week from Hamilton Central to Glasgow Central will save more than £760 a year from September, the SNP said. The party added that someone with the same commute from Larkhall station will save £910. 'The SNP is taking action to cut costs and ease financial pressures amid the cost of living crisis," said Mr Swinney. 'Scrapping peak rail fares is a critical part of my Cost of Living Guarantee that will save commuters hundreds of pounds. "Alongside SNP policies like free tuition, free prescriptions and the most generous childcare offer in the UK we are supporting people when they need it most and putting more money in people's pockets. 'Labour meanwhile took away the winter fuel Payment from over 36,000 pensioners in South Lanarkshire, have allowed energy bills to rise by over £200 and cut £5 billion of support for disabled people. 'Unlike the Labour Party, the SNP is always on your side; taking action on what matters to people in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse and across Scotland.' SNP by-election candidate Katy Loudon said: 'Too many households in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse have borne the brunt of the cost of living crisis, with the UK Labour government presiding over rampant inflation and soaring energy bills. 'In Scotland, the SNP is bringing costs down for people, with policies like free bus travel for 2.3 million people, bringing back the winter fuel payment and scrapping peak rail fares. 'The Labour Party has lost its way, but this SNP government is delivering on what matters to you. 'Vote SNP on 5 June for a cheaper commute and to put your priorities first.' Labour came second in the seat in the 2021 election but have had a challenging campaign following a number of policy decisions by the government taken to improve public finances. They include the decision to end universal winter fuel payments and cuts to welfare benefits. Last week the Prime Minister said he would restore winter fuel payments to some pensioners. Details on who will receive the benefit are expected next month. Reform UK have been campaigning in the constituency with the deputy leader Richard Tice telling The Herald on Sunday last week he believed his party could beat the SNP following momentum behind the party in the wake of the local elections in England. Mr Farage campaign trip will be his first visit to Scotland since 2019 when he attended a campaign event for the Brexit Party. During a visit to Edinburgh in 2013 he had to be locked in a pub on the Royal Mile by police for his own protection and rescued by a riot van after a protest by independence supporters. Reform UK took 7% of the Scottish vote in last year's general election, while recent polling suggests increasing support among the electorate - most notably at the potential expense of the Conservatives and Labour.
Edinburgh Reporter
23-05-2025
- Business
- Edinburgh Reporter
First Minister to tell Prime Minister to reinstate winter fuel payment for all
The First Minister, John Swinney, is in London today at the UK Government's Council of Nations and Regions. Mr Swinney will tell the Prime Minister that the Winter Fuel Payment must be restored. 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
