Campaign to protect winter fuel support must go on

Local MP, Andrew George, vowed to keep up the pressure on the Government following yesterday’s effort in parliament to block plans to withdraw the winter fuel allowance from millions of pensioners – including thousands in Cornwall.  

The Commons motion, originally tabled by the Liberal Democrats, aimed to block the removal of the payments – worth up to £300 – from all but the poorest pensioners.

This block was unsuccessful. 348 Labour MPs backed the government last night. Just 228 supported the opposition motion to annul. Approx. 10 million pensioners are set to lose the allowance.  

Andrew said: “Of course, the government must fill the black hole in public finances left by the previous Conservative government – but it should be reversing widening inequality, not extending it.  

“If the PM genuinely wishes to ensure “those with the broadest shoulders bear the greatest burden” he could, without hitting millions of struggling pensioners. The cut will hit many thousands in Cornwall who will be left in significant fuel poverty. If they wanted to withdraw entitlement from those pensioners on the highest tax band or who live in properties in the higher council tax bands, we may have supported them. But there are plenty of other ways the government can deal with this without hitting low-income households, as this does. 

“If they want to cut the bill for the winter fuel allowance, they could start by removing entitlement from those in the highest tax band and those in the highest council tax banding.” 

Under the government’s planned changes, only pensioners who receive Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits will still get the up to £300 allowance. 

According to estimates by Age UK, the government’s plan to cut the payments is likely to affect more than 122,000 pensioners in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, including 20,621 in the St Ives constituency. Many poor and vulnerable older people will struggle to stay warm this winter, the charity has warned.