Age Scotland calls for a Minister for Older People at Holyrood
Age Scotland is calling for the immediate reinstatement of a Minister for Older People in the next government after two thirds of older voters told the charity they were dissatisfied with the actions of politicians in matters involving them.
The Scottish charity for older people has led calls to bring back a named minister for the growing population of over 50s since the role was abruptly downgraded in 2023 and older people’s issues relegated into the portfolio of the Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees.
Ahead of next month’s Holyrood election, Age Scotland is highlighting a growing unhappiness among older voters about the apparent lack of interest or care from politicians about issues affecting older people. More than three quarters – 76% - said they wanted to see a Minister for Older People in the next government.
The dissatisfaction that older voters feel towards politicians is laid bare in Age Scotland’s 2025 Big Survey where 66% of respondents said they were not satisfied or not at all satisfied with the actions or care of politicians on issues affecting older people – up from 56% in 2023, when the role of Minister for Older People was last held.
Since the downgrading of the role, 59% of respondents said they felt life was getting worse for older people in Scotland and just 13% felt optimistic about their futures. Almost 70% told the charity they did not feel valued by society.
Katherine Crawford, chief executive of Age Scotland, said:
“The removal of a named Minister for Older People at Holyrood left many older people and their loved ones feeling let down and even betrayed. It was seen as evidence that the challenges facing older people were simply not important or taken seriously by the Scottish Government.
“Since then, our Big Survey research has revealed a growing dissatisfaction among older people about their elected representatives’ accountability when it comes to supporting older people. In almost every question about how older people feel they are valued by society, public attitudes towards older people and whether life is getting better or worse for older people in Scotland, the satisfaction rates are lower than they were three years ago. These figures reflect badly on the politicians elected to represent all their constituents.
“Now, with older voters and their families heading for the polls in a few weeks, there is an opportunity for the next government to right that wrong by reinstating a Minister for Older People.
“Older people have made it very clear to us that they want to see the role returned. There are more than 1.8 million over 50s living in Scotland - a substantial proportion of the country’s population - and that number is growing. There is a pressing need for a named minister to allay very real concerns among those planning to spend their later life in Scotland, particularly those affected by the deepening financial and economic challenges facing older people and the epidemic of loneliness afflicting so many.
"Bringing back a Minister for Older People would be a significant step towards showing a commitment to improving the lives of disaffected older voters and recognising the valuable role that all older people play in the rich tapestry of this country.”
