Protecting Those Most Vulnerable

This week Parliament is back in session and everything was in full swing. As the new Government gets properly underway with their policy decisions, there are many problems to tackle.

We know that the previous Conservative Government crashed our economy, left our public services in a mess and blew a hole in the public finances. They presided over a spiralling cost-of-living crisis, leaving millions of families and pensioners worried about how to make ends meet – especially with energy bills set to rise again this winter. Moreover, reports this week from the Institute for Fiscal Studies and the Scottish Fiscal Commission have made it clear that the financial shortfalls in Scotland are the Scottish Governments’ own making and not the direct responsibility of the UK Government.

Despite this, the new Government does not seem to be making things any easier for those struggling to pay bills. The Prime Minister said that sacrifices will have to be made to get the economy back on its feet, but it is imperative that this is not done at the expense of the most vulnerable in our society.

First was the decision to keep the two child benefit cap, which means 300,000 children will remain in poverty. This was followed by cutting the winter fuel payment which means 11 million pensioners will lose their winter fuel payments. This will impact 19,275 pensioners in North East Fife alone. I most worry about the pensioners on the borderline – with low incomes but who don’t qualify for pension credit for whatever reason. Taking away the winter fuel payment is absolutely disastrous. I had the opportunity to ask the chancellor about support this winter on Tuesday and will continue to push her until we get the promises we need.

Having worked closely with unpaid carers in the last parliament through the Carers Leave Act, I was deeply concerned by the complete failure by Labour to mention them in their manifesto. I did however feel encouraged this week, when in my debate on the need for National Carer’s Strategy, I received support from parties across Parliament including the Minister himself. Although he didn’t go as far as needed in terms of his commitments, it is fantastic to be getting this straight onto the political agenda as, after all, caring for our loved ones is something that impacts us all at some point or other.

My casework team have also been busy over recess, we opened our 24,000th casework case in the middle of August. It has been such an honour having the opportunity to help people here in North East Fife and I'm so grateful to be able to continue doing so. I may be spending more time down the road now Parliament is back in session, but I will absolutely continue to advocate for the local services we need at every opportunity.