Bristol petition criticises government over winter fuel allowance cuts
Its been signed by tens of thousands of people in two days
Last updated 1st Aug 2024
A petition set up in Bristol, which calls on the government to reverse cuts to winter fuel payments, has received more than 20,000 signatures in two days.
Earlier this week (Monday 29th July) new Labour Chancellor Rachael Reeves announced public finances are in such a dire state that the government will no longer be able to fund winter fuel payments to pensioners not already receiving other benefits.
It's thought around 10 million people will be impacted nationwide.
Speaking in the Commons, Rachel Reeves said: "The scale of the situation we are dealing with means incredibly tough choices. I repeat, today, the commitment that we made in our manifesto to protect the triple lock.
"But, today, I am making the difficult decision that those not in receipt of pension credit or certain other means-tested benefits will no longer receive the winter fuel payment.
"From this year onwards, the Government will continue to provide winter fuel payments worth £200 for households receiving pension credit, or £300 for households in receipt of pension credit with someone over the age of 80.
"Let me be clear, this is not a decision I wanted to make, nor is it the one that I expected to make, but these are the necessary and urgent decisions that I must make."
Martin Lewis, founder of MoneySavingExpert, immediately warned the targeting of the payments was "too narrow with the winter we have coming", adding: "The energy price cap is likely to rise 10 per cent this October and stay high across the winter, leaving most energy bills nearly double those pre-crisis, at levels unaffordable for millions.
"Many pensioners eke out the £100 to £300 winter fuel payments to allow them to keep some heating on through the cold months.
"While there's an argument for ending its universality due to tight national finances, it's being squeezed to too narrow a group - just those on benefits and pension credit. Yet again, those just above the thresholds will be hardest hit."
On the petition page, a message from the creator reads: "According to the charities this move will put 2 million older people into dire straits this winter. Deaths from hypothermia and other cold-related causes will undoubtedly increase."
Some have shared videos on the petition page urging others to sign.
In one a woman says: "Please sign and share this (petition), as it's so important elderly people should not suffer because of Labour's misguided ideas."
Another says: "Rachael Reeves should be tackling big business, large corporations and those with real wealth in the country, not those of us that really do struggle in the winter to pay our bills."
The Treasury said about £1.5 billion will be saved per year by targeting winter fuel payments.