'People will die' says Medway charity on plan to cut Winter Fuel Payments
The plan will be voted on in the House of Commons later today
The chief executive of a charity in Medway says 'people will die' if the plan to cut winter fuel payments goes ahead.
Announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in July, winter fuel payments will be restricted to those receiving pension credit, meaning more than 10 million pensioners will lose out this winter. It will be voted on in the House of Commons later today.
Sir Keir Starmer insists it’s necessary to stabilise the economy and fill a £22 billion "black hole" in this year's budget left by the Conservative government.
But he's facing growing backlash from unions and some of his own MPs who are calling for a rethink.
“This is a bad idea, we need to look after these people, they will die" says Mark Rounding, chief executive of Age UK Bradford District.
"I think something needs to be done and quickly because the weather is changing. I want it to turn round, I think everyone wants that, especially in the voluntary sector, we aren't in agreement with this because we don't want to see people die.
"We are now keeping blankets, sleeping bags and pillows, all things which can keep people warm. We can't afford to pay peoples bills, but what we can do is to just heat the person, keeping them warm and that's the most important thing this winter.
"One of the big concerns for me is when people are struggling they will do things that aren't safe such as lighting BBQs and fire to keep warm.
"Last year i saw people bring in terracotta pots and lighting a candle on top of it but they are doing it on a wooden table... t's just not safe, it can start a fire."
Meanwhile a dozen Labour backbenchers have signed a motion put forward by one of the party's new MPs, Neil Duncan-Jordan, calling on the Government to delay the policy.
The motion has also been signed by six of the seven Labour MPs who lost the whip in July after voting against the King's Speech over the Government's refusal to abolish the two-child benefit cap.
Ahead of the vote, Rachel Reeves will address a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party on Monday in an effort to address backbench concerns.