Bradford charity says plan to cut Winter Fuel Payments has sparked 'anger and despair'
The plan will be voted on in the House of Commons later today
The chief executive of a charity supporting pensioners in Bradford says plans to cut winter fuel payments has sparked a level of 'anger and despair' he's not seen before.
Under the plans announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in July, winter fuel payments will be restricted to those receiving pension credit, meaning around 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.
“We are extremely concerned about the impact of this decision, not only on the estimated 7,000 older people in Bradford District that are eligible to claim Pension Credit and don’t, as well as those who just miss out on eligibility or live in hard to heat properties,” says Mark Rounding, chief executive of Age UK Bradford District.
“These older people are facing unenviable decisions this winter which will adversely impact on their wellbeing and their health, with knock on effects for the NHS and adult social care services.
“This payment is a lifeline for so many older people and we know from the older people we meet and listen to the very real fears they have about how they will cope. We are asking people to sign the Age UK petition save the winter fuel payment (ageuk.org.uk) and also to contact their MPS.”
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.