UK: SNP Restore Winter Fuel Allowance, Lift Child Benefit Cap
The Facts
Finance Secretary Shona Robison announced Scotland's 2025-26 budget on Wednesday, featuring a record £21B (US$ 26.7B) investment in health and social care that includes a £2B ($2.5B) funding increase for frontline NHS boards.
The Scottish government pledged to remove Westminster's two-child benefit cap by 2026, a decision Robison claimed would lift 15K children out of poverty. The SNP have also pledged to restore universal winter fuel payments for pensioners in Scotland, a policy scrapped across the UK by the new Labour government.
The Spin
Left narrative
Scotland’s budget reflects a commitment to tackling inequality and supporting vulnerable communities, with significant investments in child poverty reduction, housing, and healthcare. The SNP have emphasized practical measures to uplift families and improve public services, putting pressure on Starmer and Labour to follow suit. This progressive approach contrasts with the austerity-driven policies of Westminster, showcasing the Scottish government’s focus on equity, opportunity, and a restoration of trust.
Right narrative
The budget exacerbates economic mismanagement by prioritizing soaring benefits spending over addressing fundamental challenges. With £800M more allocated to a benefits system that is already out of control, this budget deepens Scotland's reliance on welfare, ignoring calls to reduce high taxes that stifle growth and deter investment. Despite the UK’s highest tax rates, vital services like the NHS remain underfunded and poorly reformed, leaving Scots paying more while enduring declining public services.