Rebecca Smith MP to vote against Labour’s plan to cut winter fuel payments for 21,980 in South West Devon after Conservatives force Labour u-turn on vote in Parliament
- The future of Winter Fuel Payments for 21,980 pensioners in South West Devon will be decided by a vote after the Conservatives forced the Government into a U-turn.
- Under Labour's original plan to axe the payments for more than 10 million older people across the country, MPs would not be able to debate the proposal in Parliament.
But now, following strong pressure from Conservative MPs, including Rebecca Smith and an outcry from people across the country, the decision to end the payments will be discussed and vote on by every MP in the country.
And it means the Government will be forced to defend their cruel plan before a vote and will reveal which MPs are prepared to punish thousands of pensioners in their constituencies.
Pensioners in South West Devon will lose between £200 and £300 annually to help with their heating bills during the winter, if Labour MPs back the plan.
Conservative MP for South West Devon, Rebecca Smith said:
“The Labour Government is wrong to scrap the Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners.”
“Since Labour announced this significant policy change, I have heard from many local pensioners who do not qualify for Pension Credit, the new criteria to receive the Winter Fuel Payment, but who have relied on the annual payment to ensure they could afford their winter fuel bills.
“Now we have forced Labour into a vote, I will be standing up for pensioners here and supporting the Conservative motion against the cruel cuts.
“While Labour is giving their union paymasters a payrise, yet feel happy to cut vital payments to pensioners, it tells you all you need to know about the Government's priorities as we head towards Autumn and Winter.
“Rachel Reeves must reverse this decision so that those who worked hard and saved all of their life, live with dignity and security in retirement.”
A vote will take place on Tuesday 10 September.
Between 2010 and 2023, the Conservatives had lifted over 200,000 pensioners out of absolute poverty. The Conservative Government’s unprecedented cost of living support following Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine also prevented 400,000 pensioners from falling into absolute poverty after housing costs in 2022-23.
