Rachel Reeves announces winter fuel payment cuts
Dozens of MPs have criticised Rachel Reeves' decision to scrap winter fuel payments as “immoral”, “disgraceful” and “chilling”, while backing an Express crusade for a turnaround.
Politicians from the ConservativesReform, Greens, Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru have put aside their differences to support almost 10 million pensioners who have been robbed of their lifeline.
Conservative leader Dame Priti Patel slammed Ms Reeves' decision, calling it “vile and immoral”. She accused the Chancellor of the Exchequer of “turning a blind eye to those who have worked all their lives and just want to retire in dignity”.
Dame Priti, a Conservative Party candidate, added: “That is why I am supporting the Express' campaign to urge the Chancellor of the Exchequer to reverse this shameless and cruel decision.”
Mrs Reeves decided last month to strip millions of pensioners of their winter fuel allowance, despite the double whammy of higher energy bills and rising inflation this winter.
Dame Priti Patel described Labour's plan as 'shameless and cruel' (Image: Getty)
Gas and electricity bills are expected to rise by around £155 this winter, to an estimated £1,723.06 a year.
Inflation figures released on Wednesday showed inflation rose 2.2% in July, above the government's target of 2%.
Ben Maguire, MP for the Liberal Democrats, highlighted how older voters in rural areas such as his North Cornwall constituency “will be hit hard by this callous decision”. He pointed out that the measure seems particularly short-sighted given that energy bills “are still extremely high – including for fuel for people who are not on the gas grid”.
Dame Harriett Baldwin, former chair of the respected Commons Treasury Select Committee, described the political choice as “chilling” as she expressed her support for the campaign.
The senior Tory said: “This is a chilling political choice from a Labour government prepared to sacrifice the welfare of low-income pensioners to reward their union bosses with big pay rises.”
The Express launched its campaign this week to save winter fuel payments for US pensioners and is demanding that the Labour government reverse its position.
Newly elected LibDem MP Ben Maguire also backed the campaign (Image: Ben Maguire X)
It is a continuation of this newspaper's successful efforts to Triple lock for state pensions.
Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay demanded the government reconsider its “cruel decision”.
Mr Ramsay, one of four Green MPs elected last month, said he has spoken to older voters trying to survive on the state pension alone and will be “severely affected”.
He told of a retired couple living on a pension of £10 a month, who told him that they were already using their savings, intended for end-of-life care, to pay the bills.
Mr Ramsay said: “They won't be able to use their central heating at all this winter and will have to revert to coal and wood fires to keep warm.”
He was also joined by Plaid Cymru MP Ann Davies, who agreed that Labour's decision “will leave thousands of people out in the cold this winter”.
Ms Davies warned: “In Wales, an estimated 80,000 people are missing out on their pension payments despite being entitled to them. These are some of the most vulnerable in our society, many of whom live in poorly insulated households or off-grid.
“The Chancellor should reconsider her decision rather than passing the costs of economic recovery on to our pensioners.”
Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay described Ms Reeves' policies as 'cruel' (Image: Getty)
British MPs Lee Anderson and James McMurdock also backed the crusade, with Anderson describing the policy as “The Great Winter Fuel Heist of 2024”.
Mr Anderson highlighted a meeting with 75-year-old heavy equipment driver John from his Ashfield constituency, who has been working since he was 12.
He described how John has already stopped working weekends because of the high income tax, and is now “very angry” that his Winter Fuel Allowance has been stopped.
The leader of the reform faction reacted fiercely: “More than 60 years of corruption and how is John rewarded for that?”
In a statement to Parliament, Ms Reeves called for “immediate action” to tackle the £22 billion black hole in the public finances.
She will set out her further plans during the autumn budget on 30 October.
Ms Reeves claims the decision to scrap Winter Fuel entitlements for all but the poorest pensioners will save £1.4 billion.
But former Pensions Minister Sir Steve Webb warned that savings will be slashed by £440m as tens of thousands of pensioners apply for Pension Credit for the first time, entitling them to Winter Fuel Allowance.
Jan Shortt, secretary general of the National Pensioners Convention, said the choice of Ms Reeves was “incredibly short-sighted by this new government”.
Ms Shortt warned: “People's budgets will go straight into the bin if they lose the budget. Winter fuel payment.
“They don't have any extra money to compensate for the loss. There is no safety net for people.
“We already have 2.1 million pensioners living in poverty and this will only increase. It is not worth thinking about.
“People don't realize the impact this has on the retirees of the future.”
A government spokesman said: “This government is committed to pensioners: protecting the triple lockkeeping energy bills low through our Warm Homes Plan and reducing NHS waiting lists, bringing real stability to people's lives.
“We said we would be honest with the public and given the poor state of public finances we inherited, this government has to take difficult decisions to repair the foundations of the economy.
“Under these circumstances it is right that Winter fuel payment are targeted at those who need it most, and we will work with local authorities to boost the take-up of pension credit, reaching the many pensioners who can still benefit from this year’s winter fuel payments.”
The Express' campaign was launched yesterday by former Jobs and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey, who argued that the changes announced by Ms Reeves had “nothing to do with economics and everything to do with cynical political calculations”.
A petition launched by Silver Voices calling on the government to “reverse its insensitive decision” has collected nearly 82,000 signatures.
Readers can sign a petition calling for the retention of the Winter Fuel Payment here.