Labour Faces Backlash as Winter Fuel Payment Cuts Pass Commons Vote; 52 MPs Abstain

Sep 11, 2024, 04:18 AM

The Labour government's decision to cut the universal winter fuel payment for pensioners has sparked significant controversy and backlash. The policy, which passed in a Commons vote by 348 to 228, will see the benefit restricted to only the poorest pensioners, affecting millions. Labour MPs, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves, defended the cuts, citing a £22 billion black hole in public finances as the reason for the difficult decision. However, many within the party and opposition figures have criticized the move, warning it could lead to increased fuel poverty and even deaths among vulnerable pensioners. Richard Burgon, an Independent MP, expressed fears that pensioners in his constituency could die as a result of the cuts. Despite the criticism, Reeves emphasized that pensioners will have more money in their pockets due to a £900 rise in the state pension compared to the previous year. The government has also faced accusations of hypocrisy, as some MPs claimed significant taxpayer-funded expenses for their own energy bills. Additionally, 52 Labour MPs abstained from the vote, and there have been calls for the government to publish an impact assessment on the cuts.