By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
The “heartless” withdrawal of the winter fuel payments has prompted civic chiefs in Gloucester to lobby the city’s MPs to get the decision reversed.
The new Labour government announced it was cutting the tax-free lump sum payment which all pensioners were entitled to due to a “£22bn hole in the budget” which they claim to have inherited from the Conservatives.
The winter fuel payment amounts have varied, but in most years the amount has been £200 for households where the oldest person is under 80, and £300 for households with someone aged 80 or over.
Gloucester City Council says it deeply regrets its immediate withdrawal and believe it will hit well over 22,000 people.
For many it will mean they now have to face the stark choice of heating or eating, and more will now face fuel poverty as a result, they say.
Councillors agreed to write to Gloucester MP Alex McIntyre and Tewkesbury MP Cameron Thomas, asking them to both fight in the Commons for the pensioners of Gloucester in order to get the Winter Fuel payments reinstated immediately.
Councillor Andrew Gravells (C, Abbeydale), who proposed the motion, said the winter fuel allowance was rarely mentioned during the general election campaign.
He said Labour ruled out tax rises and never mentioned or hinted that they would withdraw the winter fuel allowance to fund huge pay rises for doctors and rail way drivers.
“Many vulnerable pensioner households will now miss out on the winter fuel payments despite being on very low incomes,” he said.
He told the council that the committee which scrutinises health bosses will be hearing from the NHS on their plans to address winter challenges.
“One of the issues that will undoubtedly come up is fuel poverty and the effect that has on respiratory illnesses and sadly, on occasion, death,” he said.
He also told the council meeting on September 19 that the End Fuel Poverty Coalition has estimated 4,950 excess winter deaths in the UK were caused by living in cold homes during winter 2022/23.
Estimates suggest that some 10 per cent of excess winter deaths are directly attributable to fuel poverty and 21.5 per cent are attributable to cold homes, a report by the Institute of Health Equity states.
“It just beggars’ belief that a newly elected Labour government can act in such a heartless and arrogant way and treat pensioners in such a cold and calculating way.
“They talk about health inequalities, and they talk about the cost of living crisis, and they talk about being the caring party, but by axing the winter fuel allowance they turn their back on some of the most deserving and vulnerable people here in Gloucester.
“This withdrawal of the winter fuel allowance is one of the most heartless and cruel acts I have ever seen from any Government during my time as a city councillor.”
Council leader Jeremy Hilton (LD, Kingsholm and Wotton) said his group was opposed to the withdrawal of the winter fuel payment.
He proposed an amendment to note the fact the city has two MPs.
“We’ve got Alex McIntyre who I know voted in Parliament to proceed with the removal of the winter fuel allowance but we know that Cameron Thomas, MP for Tewkesbury and the Longlevens and Elmbridge wards voted against,” he said.
He said the motion also notes the work the council is doing to tackle the cost of living crisis.
Labour group leader Terry Pullen (L, Moreland) said the reason the payment is being cut is because of the “22bn hole in the budget”.
He said public services are on their knees because of the Tories. “Working families cannot afford to put food on the table and heat their homes,” he said.
“The Labour government has had to consider whether the wealthiest pensioners should still be receiving money.”
He said he has been told by many Gloucester pensioners that they do not need that money and they would rather it went to people who genuinely need it.
“The Government has protected the triple lock which has increased £905 the interest in pensions this year,” he said.
“Labour have committed to support 850,000 pensioners to get onto pension credit. That will bring them in around about £3,900 each.”
Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk
