Last year, the majority of Labour MP’s put their Party and politics first and voted to scrap the Winter Fuel Payment for millions of British Pensioners. A statement that is even more staggering when you remember that Labour’s own research in 2017 found that if such a cut were to happen thousands of pensioners could die.
Thankfully, after a year of pressure and campaigning from the Conservatives the Government has been forced to u-term on this cruel area of ‘policy’, but not before the number of over 65s admitted to hospital after attending A&E last winter increasing by nearly 9% compared to the year prior!
Following the announcement, Peter Bedford MP asked the Minister if he agreed with him that those pensioners who missed out on the payment in Winter of 2024, but who would now qualify under the Government’s current proposals should be reimbursed for the support they lost – a question that was particularly important as according to Labour’s own impact assessment 50,000 pensioners were pushed into poverty because of the cuts.
Sadly, the Minister gave no such assurances and confirmed that the Governments revised policy would only apply prospectively; meaning that those who lost out in 2024 would not be reimbursed for the monies lost.
Speaking after his appearance Peter said: “The removal of the Winter Fuel Allowance was a cruel and political choice. The Labour Government chose to prioritise their trade union paymasters over the most vulnerable in society.”
“This is good news for the thousands of pensioners across the Mid Leicestershire area who were impacted and went through so much stress and angst by the removal of these vital payments…”
“… the answer I received on the Floor of the House of Commons from the Minister was in no way good enough for the scale of harm that has been caused.”
“I alongside my Conservative colleagues will continue to hold this Government to account do everything we can to ensure they do not get away with anything like this again.”
