Couple lose legal challenge of winter fuel payment cuts
A couple have lost a bid to sue the UK and Scottish governments over the decision to cut winter fuel payments.
Pensioners Peter and Flo Fanning, from Coatbridge in North Lanarkshire, took their case to the Court of Session in Edinburgh in March, alleging that both governments failed to adequately consult with those of pension age and did not release an equality impact assessment on the changes.
The Court of Session ruled to refuse the petition on Friday.
The couple's lawyers have said they have no doubt the Fanning's litigation had been influential in securing U-turns by both governments.
Couple's bid to sue governments over winter fuel payment
A big difference or missing out again? Reactions to winter fuel payment U-turn
Better-off pensioners able to opt-out of Scottish fuel payment
A spokesperson from the Govan Law Centre told BBC Scotland News: "While our clients have lost their case at first instance, we have no doubt that this litigation has been influential in securing the partial U-turn made by the Scottish government last November and the major policy U-turn confirmed by the UK government earlier this week.
"We hope that the Scottish government will now follow suit and restore the winter fuel payment in full for people such as our clients."
Earlier this week, the UK government abandoned plans to withdraw the payments from all but the poorest pensioners after the scheme drew widespread criticism.
The Scottish government had already launched its own winter fuel benefit in response to the original cuts which included extra support for those less well-off, but also a universal payment which is unaffected by income.
The Govan Law Centre added the legal challenge "was always one of process" and the fact the UK government has already reconsidered the cuts "vindicates" their clients.
It said that an appeal would have "reasonable prospects of success" but added it is unlikely that legal aid would be provided for this.
About 10 million pensioners in England and Wales lost their allowance under new measures announced by chancellor Rachel Reeves in July last year.
Those on pension credit or certain other means-tested benefits retained the annual payments, worth between £100 and £300.
In Scotland, the payment was devolved to Holyrood in April 2024, but the Scottish government followed the actions of their counterparts in Westminster in terminating it in August 2024, arguing £160m had been taken from its budget.
A new alternative, called the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP), was due to be introduced the following month, but that has since been pushed back to winter 2025.
It will also be means-tested, despite ministers claiming it would not be.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville recently said the universal approach of the devolved Scottish scheme was important - but that wealthier pensioners would be made aware that they could opt out.
The current plan is for all pensioner households to receive at least £100 regardless of income, while those on pension credit will receive up to £305 depending on age.
Meanwhile, the devolved government in Northern Ireland also followed suit, but affected pensioners were given a one-off £100 payment from Stormont in November.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Two Middle East-related protests to be held in central London on Saturday
Protesters are set to rally at two high-profile demonstrations in central London on Saturday over flaring conflicts in the Middle East, the Metropolitan Police said. A protest organised by groups under the Palestine Coalition banner will gather in Russell Square from 12pm, before marching to Whitehall via Aldwych and the Strand for an assembly outside Downing Street. Former Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and musician Paloma Faith are among those set to give speeches at the assembly. Meanwhile, a static counter-protest organised by pro-Israeli group Stop The Hate will be held at the same time just north of Waterloo Bridge at the junction with the Strand. The group said it would meet at the location from 12.30pm onwards. Police have set out conditions for the first protest under the Public Order Act which demands that any person taking part in the procession must remain within Russell Square ahead of the protest and must not deviate from its specified route. Demonstrators must then stay in a specified part of Whitehall for the assembly, which must finish by 5.30pm, the force said. The Palestine Coalition is comprised of a number of different groups, including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and Stop The War. Stop The War said in an advertisement for the event on its website: 'Israel's attacks on Gaza and the West Bank are intensifying. Their starvation policy continues. And now Israel attacks on Iran seem intended to lead us into a full-scale war in the Middle East. 'The UK Government has at last accepted that Israel's actions in Gaza are unconscionable. Now they must act – words are not enough.' Discussions are ongoing regarding possible conditions for the Stop The Hate protest, the Met said. In a post on X, Stop The Hate said: 'Our families in Israel are under attack: standing bravely in the face of threats and ballistic missiles, whilst the people of Iran are bravely facing down their totalitarian government — now it's our turn to stand proudly in solidarity with them.' The demonstrations come after reports on Friday that the Home Secretary will ban Palestine Action after the group vandalised two aircraft at RAF Brize Norton. Yvette Cooper has decided to proscribe the group, making it a criminal offence to belong to or support Palestine Action, after footage posted online showed two people inside the RAF base, with one appearing to spray paint into an aircraft's jet engine. PSC described the move on social media as 'outrageous', while the Campaign Against Antisemitism welcomed the news, saying: 'Nobody should be surprised that those who vandalised Jewish premises with impunity have now been emboldened to sabotage RAF jets.'
Boston Globe
4 days ago
- Boston Globe
Home of the Week: History preserved in former Roslindale mansion
Year built 1900 Square feet 3,835 Bedrooms 5 Baths 2 full, 1 half Sewer/Water Public Taxes $12,836 (2025; does not include residential exemption) Settle in. There's a lot to unpack about this Queen Anne Victorian, the only Roslindale home designated by Boston's Originally built around 1900 for newspaper executive Albert Fox and his opera-singer daughter, The home is surrounded by porches. By 1943, the Fox family had moved on, and a developer actually cut the house in half, installing the severed portion nearby. A series of owners and tenants occupied the original home until 2016, when Legally, the biopharma executives purchased the house, but in reality they treated it like a family member. They spent nine years restoring and preserving it, leading to the landmark selection by the city this year. Shutes also researched the home's history and Advertisement From the sidewalk, a small white gate opens to a gravel driveway, with at least six parking spaces, that cuts through the front lawn, passing peach, pear, apple, and cherry trees before ending on the right of the home. A wide stairwell leads to the massive wrap-around porch, offering more than one spot just to be still. Advertisement Those entering the home will be greeted by an original red brick fireplace. The doorway opens to an antechamber and a mahogany-paneled foyer, anchored by an original red brick fireplace with the Scottish proverb 'East, West, Hame's [Home's] Best.' There is also a coffered ceiling of dark wood beams and an antique brass and etched-glass chandelier. This area and the grand stairwell on the right are protected by the landmark status. Emerging on the left, past working pocket doors, is the entry to the double parlor, which starts with a 275-square-foot living room that has a three-window bump-out at the front of the home. There is thin crown molding and oak flooring. The front living room retains its period charm. Heading deeper into the home and through a second set of pocket doors connects to what was once the music room but is now an exquisite formal dining room. It's 303 square feet, and it contains a built-in China cabinet in one corner, a tiled fireplace in another, and a columned nook with a lyre-themed stained-glass window. The dining room has space for a large table. The 292-square-foot kitchen is next. It's fully updated and includes a tile backsplash in a herringbone style, personally installed by a craftsman from Viglietta's Italian hometown. The cabinets are white, the countertop on the island and counter is black Corian quartz, and the appliances — including the gas stove — are stainless steel. A slider connects to the porch in the front of the house. Tied to the kitchen is a 178-square-foot family room with a slider to the rear yard of the 17,384-square-foot lot. The kitchen is the most modern space in the house. The grand staircase leads to a home office on the mezzanine level before completing the ascension to the second floor, where a two-room suite awaits. Advertisement The second-floor bedroom has hardwood floors and a three-window bump-out. It's a mix of old and new: The 431-square-foot bedroom has hardwood floors, a three-window bump-out, and a single window on the other exterior wall. The closet has white bifold doors. The 'new' is a 302-square-foot conservatory with two walls of windows and a large skylight built by the current owners with the help of Viglietta's father. A built-in wet bar, made by the elder Viglietta, incorporates an antique porcelain sink. The flooring is patterned cement. A few steps away is the updated 151-square-foot bathroom, which has a repurposed dresser for the vanity inset with a single sink. It's shower-only but without a door and has black subway tile for the backsplash and marble tile flooring. It was built using the The second bedroom on this floor is 219 square feet and has three windows. The flooring is hardwood, and there's a built-in armoire and a closet. Heading to the third and final floor, there is yet another home office on a mezzanine level. The 431-square-foot third floor primary bedroom has walls dramatically shaped by the home's roofline. On the top floor, there is a 431-square-foot primary bedroom with walls dramatically shaped by the home's roofline. There are windows on all three exterior walls, plus a ceiling fan. A door connects to both the final bedroom (138 square feet) and the shared full bath. The bath is shower-only, with a white subway tile backsplash. The single vanity is a repurposed dresser with a sink placed on top. The laundry is located in the unfinished basement, which has a workbench and loads of storage space. The original foundation is granite boulders. The home is heated by gas-fed forced hot water that adjusts in six zones. Advertisement John R. Ellement can be reached at . Follow him . Send listings to homeoftheweek@ Please note: We do not feature unfurnished homes unless they are new-builds or gut renovations and will not respond to submissions we won't pursue. Subscribe to our newsletter at and follow us on X @globehomes. The rear patio has space to entertain. The front porch is a good place to watch the world go by.
Business Journals
5 days ago
- Business Journals
BrewDog closes urban location amid rising costs
A Scottish craft brewery that has its United States headquarters in Central Ohio is closing its Cincinnati location.
