Scots couple begin court battle over winter fuel payment cut

THE UK Government was "blinded" by financial imperatives when it cut the winter fuel payment, a court has heard.

- Nick Forbes

Florence and Peter Fanning, from Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, started their legal challenge against Labour and SNP ministers yesterday.

The couple want the Court of Session in Edinburgh to restore the payment as part of a judicial review. Mr Fanning, 73, receives a state pension and work pension, while Mrs Fanning, 72, gets the state pension.

Struggle

They do not meet the criteria to qualify for pension credit and decided to fight for the benefit to be restored for all pensioners.

Their lawyer, Joanne Cherry KC, told the court they are "elderly pensioners" who both have disabilities. "Like most pensioners they live on a fixed income and struggle to afford to heat their home in the winter," she said.

"They are exactly the sort of people the winter fuel payment was designed to help."