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Sept 2024
Winter fuel payment cut: What does your MP think?
A vote to end winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners will be held in Parliament tomorrow.
Currently, people of state pension age receive either £200 or £300 to help heat their homes in winter.
But Chancellor Rachel Reeves told Parliament in July those not in receipt of pension credit, or other means-tested benefits, in England and Wales will no longer be eligible for the payment.
The new Labour government introduced the measure in response to what Ms Reeves described as a £22 million “black hole” left by the Conservatives.
We sought the views of the three MPs whose constituencies cover the former Harrogate district.
Lib Dem MPs oppose plans
Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, has said he and party colleagues will vote against the measure.
Mr Gordon’s office said about 20,000 pensioners in the constituency were at risk of losing the payment. He added:
I’ve heard from countless pensioners across Harrogate and Knaresborough worried about losing this vital support and how they will afford their energy bills this winter.
Stripping support from many of the poorest pensioners in Harrogate and Knaresborough just when energy bills are set to rise again is simply wrong.
It could force vulnerable elderly people in our community to choose between eating and heating this winter.
All 72 Liberal Democrat MPs have backed plans to block the vote from passing, and Mr Gordon said the party will do “everything we can” to stop it. He added:
I recognise that the new government faces difficult choices after the appalling mess left by the Conservatives. But a rethink is urgently needed so that poorer and vulnerable pensioners in our community continue to get the support they so desperately need.
24,000 pensioners in Skipton and Ripon affected, MP says
Sir Julian Smith, the Conservative MP for Skipton and Ripon, accused the new government of “not supporting” pensioners’ security in retirement.
Sir Julian cited data from the House of Commons Library that found around 26,000 people currently receive the winter fuel payment in his constituency.
Around 24,000 of those people would lose the allowance, he added.
Sir Julian said:
One of the first acts of this government has been to scrap the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners.
This represents losses of up to £300 for millions of pensioners at a time when there will be a rise in the energy price cap.
The last government successfully delivered around 12 million winter fuel payments and pensioner cost of living payments to older people across the UK in December 2023. These afforded pensioners security in retirement, something I am concerned this government is not supporting.
I will be sure to press the government on this matter during the vote tomorrow.
‘Labour is not on the side of pensioners’
Conservative Sir Alec Shelbrooke, the first MP to represent the new Wetherby and Easingwold seat, also opposes Labour’s cost-saving plan.
His office believes around 21,555 people in his constituency receive the winter fuel payment.
Sir Alec said the government’s plan was in “stark contrast” to the recent Conservative government, which he said prioritised pensioners.
He told the Stray Ferret:
To prioritise cutting £1.5 billion from the pockets of pensioners this winter, whilst handing out £10 billion of inflation-busting pay rises in the public sector - including train drivers earning near to £100,000 - shows that this new Labour government is not on the side of pensioners.
This is in stark contrast to the last Conservative government that prioritised the pensions triple lock, winter fuel allowances and had a plan to introduce a new pensioners tax-free personal allowance.
Around 10 million people are set to be impacted the move.
The Prime Minister’s spokesperson said the cabinet is "in agreement" about fixing the foundations of the economy, adding this is "the mandate they have been asked to deliver by the country".
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