MPs will be given a vote on the Chancellor’s plans to take up to £300 off retirees this year.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is under pressure to water down her cuts to the winter fuel allowance (Image: Getty)
BRITAIN’S fair-minded pensioners have urged Sir Keir Starmer to back a compromise deal that would mean only the well off losing winter fuel payments.
An independent survey carried out for Silver Voices has highlighted the level of concern about the Government’s money saving measure.
Nearly 3,000 members took part, the largest response in the group’s history, and nine in ten opposed the reforms that will leave some retirees £300 worse off.
But they also overwhelmingly supported a possible compromise to protect older people on modest incomes, with 94% in favour of it being taken off wealthy pensioners paying higher rate tax.
Silver Voices Director Dennis Reed said: “Our members support the continuation of the universal payment, but they are not greedy, in order to provide a get-out for Labour, we suggest a new cut-off point for this benefit at the level of the higher rate of tax.
“We hope that the pressure from MPs over the next few days will persuade the Government to withdraw the regulations and conduct a proper consultation and impact assessment on possible reform of the winter fuel payment, with the universal payment continuing for this winter.”
Linking the allowance to the 40% tax rate would mean more than half a million pensioners lost out.
“MPs must search their conscience before they vote on the secondary legislation before Parliament next week, as this brutal policy would undoubtedly increase the number of excess deaths caused by cold-related conditions this winter.
“Even Government supporters have agreed that the poverty-level cut-off point proposed is too low.
“Silver Voices supports the continuation of the universal payment, but in order to provide a get-out for Labour, we suggest a new cut-off point for this benefit at the level of the higher rate of tax.
“We hope that the pressure from MPs over the next few days will persuade the Government to withdraw the regulations and conduct a proper consultation and impact assessment on possible reform of the winter fuel payment, with the universal payment continuing for this winter.
“If Labour MPs vote against their better judgement next week they will be placing their short-term political careers before the quality of life of their older constituents. We were promised change, but not for the worse”.
Tories said Labour had had to be “dragged” to the Commons, only agreeing to give MPs a say when they tabled their own motion on the issue.
Labour MP Racheal Maskell, a leading campaigner, told the Express her focus in the coming days was on securing “mitigations” to protect older people who will struggle to heat their homes this winter.
Ms Maskell has secured her own debate in Westminster Hall, the second Commons chamber, on Tuesday morning ahead of the government’s vote later that day.
She said MPs were “really worried” about the changes and her focus in the discussion would be on the public health implications.
The York Central MP said: “If you are cold you are more likely to have a stroke or a heart attack or a virus.
“As a result of that, there could be serious consequences.
“The Treasury looks at it through an economic prism but it should be looked at as a health issue.”
Labour peer Lord Foulkes said: “While I realise the Government inherited the worst ever financial and fiscal situation and had to find ways of paying for un-budgeted commitments in the current financial year this was a wrong choice.
I have spent the last few days trying to get them to think again and will continue to do so .
If they are unwilling to do so they must look at all possible ways of helping those who will need help in the coming months including a major new campaign on pension credit take-up.”
Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride said: “We welcome that the Labour Government have u-turned and there will now be a vote on the Conservative motion to scrap the cruel cut to Winter Fuel Payments.
“Labour thinks it is right to give their union paymasters an inflation-busting pay rise over protecting vulnerable pensioners, just as bills are going up. This tells you everything you need to know about the Government’s values.
“Labour still wants to stop this vital support for the most vulnerable pensioners, but we would urge all MPs to do the right thing and back this Conservative motion to stop this punishing cut.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is axing the universal winter fuel allowance, which is £200 for pensioners under 80 and £300 for those over to save £1.5 billion
Around 10 million retirees in England and Wales who do not receive pension credit or other means-tested benefits will lose out.
Commons Leader Lucy Powell said a motion to approve the changes will be debated on September 10.
She said the changes were needed to fill a £22 billion black hole in spending.
Ms Powell added: “The legacy they have left us means we have had to make some really difficult decisions, decisions we did not want to make, like means testing the winter fuel payment.
“But we are doing all we can to support pensioners this winter: protecting the triple lock, which has seen the state pension go up by £900 this year and likely to rise by several hundred pounds next year; the Warm Home Discount worth £150; extending the Household Support Fund; and a huge campaign to get eligible pensioners onto Pension Credit.
“And yes, we have scheduled a vote on the winter fuel payment next week, because we are not afraid to have the debate about how we have got to where we have got to, a vote that, quite frankly, would not have happened under his party opposite because we respect Parliament and we respect doing things properly.”
