In the wake of the harshest winter for decades, Alex Salmond says elderly Scots should never again be forced into making the agonising choice between “heating and eating.”
The SNP leader promised pensioners “a fair deal” during a trip to Perth on Wednesday.
He hotly disputes suggestions that a vote for his party in the Westminster elections is a wasted ballot.
He claims a strong showing for the SNP is the only way to ensure Scotland’s voice is heard in London’s corridors of power.
“At the heart of the SNP’s manifesto is a commitment to securing a fair deal for Scotland’s older people,” he told the party faithful.
“Where the SNP are standing up for Scotland’s pensioners, the London parties are letting them down with cuts which endanger the services and support they need.
“If elected as Scotland’s local and national champions, SNP MPs will argue for pensions to rise in line with average earnings and will continue to resist Labour plans to scrap allowances for our elderly and disabled.”ProtectionMr Salmond urged voters to support Perth and North Perthshire hopeful Pete Wishart.
“As this election comes closer voters of all ages are rejecting the metropolitan parties and are looking to the SNP as a real alternative to the Westminster machine,” he continued. “At this election more nats will mean better protection for Scotland’s pensioners.
“In government, the SNP has extended concessionary bus travel and fully funded free personal care for the elderly.
“We have seen more central heating systems installed and enhanced support for all Scotland’s veterans.”
Mr Salmond said many pensioners are routinely forced to choose between eating and heating which he described as an “absolute scandal” in an oil-rich country like Scotland.
“In the next Parliament the SNP will ensure a fair deal for our pensioners is at the top of the agenda,” he said.
“Instead of frittering away hundreds of millions on the ineffective and undemocratic House of Lords every year, the UK Government should be ensuring a decent standard of living for pensioners.”