SINCE July, the Labour Government has continued being complicit in Palestinian suffering amounting to genocide in Gaza by failing to stop arms sales to Israel; voted against the SNP amendment to lift more children out of poverty by ending the two-child benefit cap; withdrawn the Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) from pensioners; and cancelled £800 million in funding for Edinburgh University, in the top 30 of nearly 2,000 leading universities in 108 countries.

In less than two months, Labour has betrayed peace campaigners, children and low-income families, all pensioners, and a significant number of the cleverest and most inventive and pioneering people in Scotland.

Voters emphatically removed a cruel and chaotic Tory Government, but do Labour voters in Lothian East think Labour’s policies benefit them, their neighbours, the county or Scotland?

The WFP was of critical importance to thousands of pensioners. Scotland has some of the least well-insulated homes in Europe and some of the coldest weather in the UK: these factors required all older people to be treated equally via a universal benefit.

SNP activists, however, encountered Tory-voting pensioners who criticised the Scottish Government for "wasting money" by paying the benefit to all pensioners, including those who are better off.

Contrary to what some may believe, pension incomes above the tax-free allowance level are subject to tax; the Scottish Government considered that tax-paying pensioners were also entitled to a universal benefit which respected the dignity of age.

Unfortunately, although this is a devolved matter, it has been taken out of Holyrood’s hands by Westminster’s decision to means-test the WFP for England and Wales. A cut of £160 million to Scottish funding for 2024-25 means the Scottish Government’s proposal for a Pension Age Winter Heating Payment has also been delayed until 2025-26. Westminster cuts will remove 90 per cent of the funding.

Many pensioners are entitled to additional pension credit but more than a quarter who are eligible don’t apply: it’s vital to check that any senior family members or older friends who might be entitled to additional pension payments now apply.

Funding of £800 million for Edinburgh University’s world-leading ‘exascale’ super-computer has also been axed. This innovation was intended to “revolutionise breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, medicine and clean low-carbon energy... and mean new high-skilled jobs for Edinburgh” (HMG, 2023).

In July 2024 Sir Keir Starmer and Anas Sarwar promised to “deliver change for the entirety of Scotland”. Is this proving to be change for the better? Not so far.