North East MP calls on Chancellor to scrap winter fuel cuts for the vulnerable
Written by Cian Mortimer on 8th October 2024
North East Labour MP Andy McDonald is urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to use her Budget at the end of this month to reverse planned cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance (WFA).
“The cuts to Winter Fuel Allowance continue to conflict starkly with the commitment to reject austerity and will leave poor pensioners in cold homes this winter,” said Mr McDonald.
“Those who’ve done their bit and put in a full working life with a modest occupational pension, shouldn’t be punished and see their payments being taken away.
“We do have to remember how poorly our pensions compare with our European counterparts, triple locked or otherwise.
The Government has decided to means-test the payment, to help save public money, and Ms Reeves is expected to confirm that when she presents Labour’s first Budget in 15 years, on October 30.
But the decision has provoked anger, because of the impact it will have on some of society’s most vulnerable people (in this case, pensioners and long-term benefit dependents).
The backlash has included Labour members, who voted against the move at their party conference in Liverpool last month.
Mr McDonald says the Labour Government should now respect its party members’ view.
“Now that the Conference has called for this policy to be reversed, the Budget must be the opportunity to change approach,” he said.
The party vote came just weeks after a Bill to block the cuts was defeated in Parliament – a vote in which the Middlesbrough and Thornaby East MP and 51 other Labour MPs abstained.
The move to means-test the allowance will see 10 million elderly people lose access.
“Age UK Sunderland is very disappointed at the government’s decision to cut the winter fuel payment for older people,” said a local spokesperson.
“Older people who are not in receipt of pension credit do not hit the threshold for the payment.
“We are urging older people to check their benefit entitlements to see if they qualify for pension credit as this will help them gain access to the payment.
“For those who are above the threshold it continues to be a worrying time and many older residents will, sadly, be continuing to make the difficult decision to either ‘heat or eat’ during the cold winter months, which we believe will significantly affect the physical and mental health of this group.”
The Labour conference vote against the cuts adds to the mounting protest but is not a binding vote on the party’s Ministers – and the Chancellor has made it clear the cuts will go ahead.