Blake Stephenson, the MP for Mid Bedfordshire, is set to vote against the new Labour Government’s plan to cut universal access to Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners in Parliament tomorrow (10th September).
Sir Keir Starmer is introducing legislation to the House of Commons which would see pensioners not in receipt of Pension Credit or on means-tested benefits lose as much as £300 worth of support this winter. And taking into account upcoming energy price cap rises this would mean the average pensioner is out of pocket by around £450.
This will impact those on low incomes who are just above the Pension Credit threshold, those with high energy needs because of disability or illness and around one million people who are eligible for Pension Credit but aren’t claiming for it.
Local MP Blake Stephenson is concerned about the impact it could have on the thousands of pensioners across Mid Bedfordshire who will be impacted at such short notice.
“No pensioner should be sitting at home worrying about whether they will be able to afford to heat their home this winter and that is why I will be voting against the Labour Government’s plans to cut universal access to Winter Fuel Allowance.
“To make this decision just a couple of months before winter shows a complete lack of consideration and compassion for pensioners across Mid Bedfordshire, thousands of whom will now unexpectedly face losing up to £300 this winter.
“Whilst colleagues and I will do our best to scrutinise and influence the new Government, I would urge all pensioners to apply for the benefits they are entitled to such as Pension Credit, which would re-open access to a Winter Fuel Allowance.”
Age UK, the leading charity for older people, has described the change as ‘the wrong policy’ decision and has set up a petition calling on the Government to reverse its position.
The petition has now been signed by around 500,000 people across the country, including Blake who is keen to share it with people across Mid Bedfordshire.
You can sign the petition here: https://campaigns.ageuk.org.uk/page/154268/petition/1
