North West Norfolk MP James Wild discusses disappointment over Labour’s Decision to cut Winter Fuel Payments

North West Norfolk MP James Wild expresses his concern over Labour’s decision to cut Winter Fuel Payments in his weekly column…

“Change is alright, but change to what?” The words of a constituent in Blackborough End during the general election have stuck in my mind. Labour promised change but based on the first weeks of this government I expect many will feel disappointed.

That’s certainly the case for pensioners. On Tuesday, Labour MPs voted to cut Winter Fuel Payments for 10 million pensioners.

That includes around 22,000 people in North West Norfolk – 89.5% of people who currently receive the payments worth up to £300.

Over 200,000 pensioners in Norfolk will now lose their payments this winter.

The three new Labour MPs in our county voted to take away these vital payments.

The Prime Minister may pretend this is about stopping millionaires getting the Winter Fuel Payment – if it was, then the changes would be supported.

But it isn’t. It is about 880,000 people entitled to Pension Credit who don’t claim – some of the poorest pensioners.

Before the vote, Age UK said around 2.5 million pensioners who “badly need the money to stay warm this winter will not receive it”.

And there are 200,000 with serious health conditions or disabilities.

Every day I receive many emails recounting serious and often very personal concerns about the loss of this vital support to help heat people’s homes.

I remember the last Parliament where the now Prime Minister spoke about pensioners having to choose between heating or eating and the health impacts of being cold.

But to help pensioners during the energy price rises we had Winter Fuel Payments as well as extra cost of living payments worth £300. They are not being continued.

It was exposed ahead of the vote that in response to this cut to Winter Fuel Payments the government is only expecting take-up of Pension Credit to increase from 60 per cent to 65 per cent.

Such an increase would see only 129 more households in North West Norfolk claiming. I worry about the other 1,430 who could claim – and those not eligible.

In the debate, Labour MPs tried to blame others for their decision. That won’t wash. While cutting much-needed payments to keep people warm, they have agreed inflation-busting pay rises for train drivers.

Labour also pledged to save families £300 off energy bills. Instead, pensioners are now facing the “double hit” of rising bills and losing Winter Fuel Payments.

I’d hoped the government would think again. Sadly the reality is many vulnerable people in our area will face a cold winter without the payments they were expecting.

So please encourage anyone you think may qualify for Pension Credit to apply online or freephone 0800 99 1234. The government should think again and do the decent thing. If you agree then sign the petition.

The speed of this decision is in stark contrast to the delay on the new hospitals programme caused by the review Labour launched two months ago.

Last week the Prime Minister said RAAC hospitals like QEH were a priority. With the Darzai NHS report the government announced after the election set to be published, Labour should immediately commit to a new QEH by 2030.