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The SNP leader pledged to use the coming year “to eradicate child poverty, to grow the economy, to tackle the climate crisis and to improve our public services”, and described 2024 as “a remarkable and memorable year for me as I was given the honour of serving you all as First Minister of Scotland”.
However, with a Holyrood election looming in 2026, the First Minister also made reference to the new Labour government’s cut to winter fuel payments for pensioners and its refusal to end the two child benefit cap.
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Finance secretary Shona Robison’s budget set out plans to give all pensioners at least £100 towards their winter heating bills from next year. Those on eligible benefits will continue to receive £200 or £300.
She also announced £3 million of funding to develop the systems to deliver the mitigation of the two-child cap.
Mr Swinney said: “Like many of you, I am also reflecting on the challenges that we faced over the last year, and there have been many. With higher bills to pay, winter can increase financial hardship for many families and for pensioners.
The UK government ended universal winter fuel payments in July(Image: PA) “That is why my government has set out a budget to ensure that pensioners will once again receive universal winter fuel payments; that will move a step closer to eradicating child poverty by mitigating the two-child cap; and that will deliver record investment for our precious National Health Service.”
Mr Swinney thanked Tartan Army fans for the “moments of joy that we shared together” in Munich during the Euros, and said those moments along with the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament helped to “fill me with purpose and with energy”.
He issued a reminder to be “safe” during festivities, and concluded his message by wishing Happy New Year in both English and Gaelic.
Political rivals also issued New Year messages, with Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay vowing to be “a voice for everyone in Scotland who just wants sensible and practical solutions to the issues that affect their everyday lives”.
Mr Findlay, who was elected to his role in September 2024, said that many people felt Holyrood was not reflecting their concerns and said that “2025 must be the year where we start to restore trust in politics”.
He added: “I will work hard to win back trust by only making promises I can keep and committing to deliver on any promises I do make.
“That’s my commitment to you for 2025 and all the years ahead.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said 2024 had been “one of the most transformative in our recent history”, and added: “We had to get rid of one government that was doing so much damage to our country.”
He said the “hard work of change has begun – but the job is only half done. Over the course of 2025 – with energy, humility and hard work – I will seek to demonstrate that we need a new direction in Scotland, too”.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said his party would push to see its priorities reflected in the Scottish budget, including: winter fuel allowance; spending on social care; affordable homes; family carers; additional support needs; and the Belford Hospital in Fort William and the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion in Edinburgh.
He described the new year as “critical” and said: “Over the coming weeks, we will continue to put pressure on the government to set out the detail of those commitments.”
The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves announced in July that, from winter 2024/2025, households in England and Wales would no longer be entitled to the winter fuel payment unless they receive pension credit or certain other means-tested benefits. It is expected to save around £1.3 billion in 2024/25 and £1.5bn in subsequent years.
UK minsters said that the payment changes, together with the other measures it announced in July, were a necessary response to substantial pressures facing the public finances this year and next
Following the Chancellor’s decision, the Scottish Government initially said that the resulting cut to its funding of £160 million left it with “no choice” and that it would follow the UK Government’s decision to restrict payments. As a result 900,000 older Scots would cease to receive the annual allowance.
However, in December the Scottish Government announced plans to restore the payments with at least £100 to be given to all pensioner households from 2025/26.
Scrapping the two child benefit cap would cost the UK government £3.5 billion a year and the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has insisted that he will not end it until there is a clear way of funding the extra benefit payments, worth about £3,400 a year per child.
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