# Shona Robison promises brighter future with Holyrood Budget

By Simon Francis — 2026-01-13

Simon Francis, coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said: “Any investment that helps make homes warmer and provides support to struggling households will matter to many people. But after five winters of high energy bills, this Budget still does not match the scale of the fuel poverty challenge facing Scotland.

“With an election approaching, it’s understandable that politicians may be tempted to keep their powder dry. But cold, damp homes and rising energy debt won’t pause for the campaign trail. There is no excuse for inaction when hundreds of thousands of households are struggling to stay warm.

“Against that backdrop, inflation-linked increases to energy efficiency budgets means the country will risk standing still rather than moving forward. We need a step change, not business as usual.

“The current Government should use the months before the election to build a far more ambitious programme where warm homes are treated as national infrastructure and where crisis funding is in place for winter 2026/7.

“Meanwhile, Ministers must press harder for UK-wide energy pricing reform, so households are not left dependent on emergency support year after year.”

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