| SSP candidate Morag Balfour launched a six-point “Fight the Cold” programme to address what she says are “widespread fears” about heating costs this winter.
The launch followed BP’s announcement of a £6.4 billion profit.
Ms Balfour said the SSP would increase winter fuel allowance for pensioners, extend them to the low paid, introduce an immediate windfall tax on energy companies, return these industries to public ownership and back a mass campaign of opposition to attempts to disconnect the homes of people who cannot pay energy bills.
She added that the party wanted insulation programmes for all social housing and vowed to break the country’s “addiction” to fossil fuels by investing in renewable energy.
“Millions of senior citizens, disabled, low-paid and unemployed people are dreading this winter because they simply don’t know where they are going to get the money to pay exorbitant gas and electricity bills,” Ms Balfour said.
“The NHS records 50,000 cold-related deaths in Britain each year and recent reports from Energy Watch estimates that there are now 5.7 million households in Britain suffering fuel poverty.
“People are livid at the way prices have gone up and up and up.
“The time for talk is over and Scottish Socialists have set out a programme to tackle the immediate problem and make a start on dealing with the long-term problems.”
Meanwhile, following yesterday’s visit by shadow foreign secretary William Hague, Conservative candidate Maurice Golden was campaigning with shadow defence secretary Liam Fox.
The pair were to visit the war memorial in Markinch before meeting voters in the Kingdom Shopping Centre in Glenrothes.
Elsewhere on the campaign trail today, Labour candidate Lindsay Roy launched an attack on the SNP candidate Peter Grant.
Mr Roy claimed his rival was “unrepentant” on home care charges for the elderly and vulnerable.
The claim follows Mr Grant’s appearance on Newsnight Scotland last night.
Questioned on the controversial topic, Mr Grant admitted some pensioners were paying more — sometimes up to £11 an hour — for hoem care charges.
Pressed on emergency alarms, for which pensioners are now charged £51, he denied people were raising it as an issue — despite a Labour claim almost 100 pensioners had returned their alarms since charging was introduced.
John Park, Labour MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife, said, “The SNP candidate’s appearance on Newsnight will send shivers up the spines of pensioners across Fife.
“This man is unrepentant and should apologise for his bad decision and scrap these outrageous charges.”
Meanwhile, Mr Grant was campaigning with Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on the rising cost of living. |
