Latest news

Annual gathering celebrates with a win

This year, the Scottish Pensioners’ Forum, the campaigning organisation for older people in Scotland, will be holding their Annual Conference at the Glynhill Hotel in Renfrew on Tuesday 10th June 2025 and will be celebrating with a win after the Chancellor’s dramatic u-turn on the Winter Fuel Allowance

Rose Jackson, SPF Chair stated:

“This is the first meeting of older people since the Chancellor’s announcement and yes, we will be seeing this as a win. Our joint campaign, alongside Unite the Union and the National Pensioners’ Convention, clearly demonstrated the strength of feeling that society has for the welfare of their older people. We certainly made our voices heard loud and clear.

“Although nothing can be done about the anxiety and stress suffered by so many older people over a particularly harsh winter, we are happy that Westminster has finally seen sense although their situation in the polls may well have been the real catalyst for their change of direction, not compassion or common sense.

“The fact that no apology was given by the Chancellor over the anguish her decision has caused over the past year speaks volumes; her behaviour is not unlike that of a petulant child who has had to admit defeat while at the same time is stubbornly trying to save face.

“We acknowledge that older people in Scotland were fortunate that the Scottish Government decided to award all older people a winter fuel allowance of £100 from 2025, however we hope that today’s decision, which affects only England and Wales, will have a knock on effect and that we can look forward to a similar decision in the near future from Holyrood.”

9TH June 2025