Deflection has been a major part of the SNP project over the last decade: everybody else (usually Westminster) is to blame for the devolved government’s failings, while the odd glimmer of success is framed as a strategic triumph, wholly separate from broader UK policy.

The truth, as ever, lies somewhere in the middle, but the last decade or so of disastrous Conservative governance, combined with relatively little media scrutiny of Scotland’s “progressive” government, has left many Scots with the impression that all bad decisions are imposed by Westminster.

The reality is that this is simply not the case. Devolution gave Scotland significant budgeting powers; the SNP have chosen not only to ignore these powers, but also to obfuscate their true reach in an attempt to keep Scottish ire directed south of the border.

Scottish Labour’s challenge, in the run up to the 2026 election, is to turn this narrative on its head by clueing voter’s in on what they could expect from a functional Scottish administration, and the WFP announcement is an excellent place to start.

When the WFP cut was initially announced, few Scots realised that the Scottish government had the option to adopt a different strategy. In a move that the SNP have well and truly trademarked, Scottish ministers tore into the decision, refusing to acknowledge the possibility that Scotland could choose to take a different path.

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Amidst this clamour, the fact that the WFP was to become a devolved benefit in 2024 was handily obscured, as were the additional resources that the UK government made available in the, evidently misplaced, belief that the SNP might want to do some real governing, and craft their own policy on this issue.

To be fair to the Scottish government, I believe their hands were tied, to some extent, on this issue, but not by Westminster: their own misguided spending decisions, combined with a lack of foresight and forward planning for public sector pay increases, meant that they had no wiggle room to make the most of this devolved benefit.

In stark contrast, Stormont – a far smaller, and less well funded government – have been able to find an additional £17 million for a one off, universal pensioner payment that will help to tide over households hit by the cut.

This indicates that, quite clearly, where there is a will there is, in fact, a way. Scotland deserves better; however it will not realise the full benefits of devolution until it has a government in place that wants to use the powers at its disposal.

Thankfully, there is a real possibility that we could achieve this in 2026, thanks to a revitalised Scottish Labour movement that understand the benefits devolution can offer and is willing, when necessary, to diverge from Westminster strategy.

By committing to restoring a reformed winter fuel payment, Anas Sarwar has confirmed that he is ready to end the era of “buck passing” that the SNP have imposed on Scots, for far too long. Scotland will only thrive when its leaders actually want to govern, and the SNP have shown little to no indication that they are interested in or willing to take up that mantle. 

Lord Foulkes is a life Labour peer who served as Minister of State for Scotland from 2001 to 2002. He served as MP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, formerly South Ayrshire, from 1979 to 2005 and is the former MSP for Lothians (Region) 2007 - 2011.