The charity Age Scotland is calling for the next First Minister of Scotland to reinstate the post of Minister for Older People in response to what it says is rapidly growing dissatisfaction with how politicians are approaching policy for older people, age and ageing.

Despite a growing population of people over 50, the role dedicated to older people ended in 2023. Age Scotland describe the decision to include older people the portfolio of the Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees as a downgrading and relegating older people’s issues in government.

As part of its election campaigning, Age Scotland is today highlighting what it says is growing unhappiness that Holyrood politicians are not interested and do not care about issues affecting older people.

The charity says that dissatisfaction was laid bare in Age Scotland’s 2025 Big Survey where 66% of older people who responded 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 there was a Minister for Older People in post.

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.

More than three quarters – 76% - said they wanted to see a Minister for Older People in the next government.

Chief executive of Age Scotland, Katherine Crawford, says the next Scottish government needs to reverse what was the wrong decision:

“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.”

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