While the summer has been mostly quiet, with Members of Parliament setting up their offices again after July’s General Election and catching up on constituency casework and visits, one of the Labour Government’s first actions - to scrap the Winter Fuel Payment for millions of pensioners - has caused a flurry of emails, letters and petitions to my office.
The Government has announced that millions will no longer receive annual Winter Fuel Payments unless in receipt of pension credit or other means-tested benefits. This means around £10 million pensioners will be up to £300 rose off at a time when energy bills are set to rise again over the winter.
Labour have done this straight after a General Election at which they made no mention of their intentions in their manifesto. I consider this to be at best disingenuous and at worst deeply dishonest. I firmly believe that pensioners must be afforded dignity and respect in retirement, and I am deeply concerned about the new Government’s plans.
The last Conservative Government successfully delivered around 11.9 million Winter Fuel Payments and Pensioner Cost of Living Payments to older people across the UK in December 2023. We uprated the basic State Pension, new State Pension, and Pension Credit minimum guarantee in line with September 2023 average earnings growth- 8.5 per cent. These actions afforded pensioners security in retirement, which it seems this Labour Government is not supporting.
Last week, the Conservative Opposition submitted an Early Day Motion calling for the Winter Fuel Payment withdrawal decision to be debated so the Government can be held to account for its actions which could leave millions having to choose between eating or heating this winter. I will be sure to press the Government on this matter as I know how it will impact many of my constituents.
