The Labour government has listened to the people and reversed its decision to cut winter fuel payments. Chancellor Rachel Reeves today said that the economy was doing sufficiently well to re-look at the proposed savings. The new ceiling will only affect those pensioners above £35,000. This means 9 million pensioners this year will now receive the allowance, an increase of the means tested threshold from 12k to 35k. A large number of Labour MPs have been campaigning for this reversal including Clive Lewis, Nadia Whittome, Imran Hussein, Rachel Maskell and Richard Burgon. All welcomed the successful outcome and urged the Government to now also reconsider proposed cuts to disability benefits. Leeds Labour MP Richard Burgon commented “I don’t want to see the party take the choice to continue the failed economic orthodoxy of the last 14 years, or indeed the failed economic orthodoxy that’s ruled the roost since 1979. We must make sure that we don’t pursue a policy of austerity. Austerity is always a political choice, not an economic necessity, especially in this one of the richest economies on Earth, and that’s why I was one of the MPs who voted against the cut to winter fuel allowance, because pensioners in my constituency asked me to vote that way.”
Labour is Listening
Cllr Brian Smedley, Leader of Labour run Bridgwater Town Council also welcomed the decision saying “The Labour Government made a mistake when it scrapped Winter Fuel Payments but pressure from Labour backbenchers, Constituency Parties, the Trades Unions and the Public has caused them to have a re-think. This shows that the Labour Government is listening and that we can achieve policy change by pressure from the ranks. Now the Labour Party leadership needs to listen to the party members and the wider public on other key issues including the two-child benefit cap, reversing the proposed disability cuts and opposing the Israeli actions in Gaza by stopping all arms sales there. “
Correct Decision
Cllr Tim Mander, Chairman of Bridgwater Constituency Labour Party said “I think the reintroduction of the winter fuel allowance for those earning under £35,000 pa is excellent news and a great result for those who lobbied within the Labour Party to make this change. Clearly, it’s not right that the likes of Richard Branson; Mick Jagger and other very wealthy people got this payment however setting the cut off barrier at £12,000 pa was never right or fair. We have arrived at the correct decision after a fairly torturous route but nevertheless got there in the end!”
Good News
Councillor Liz Marsh (Bridgwater Victoria) said “This is obviously good news and shows that the Government are listening to us. People need to see a change from what the last 14 years of Tory government brought us and with the economy improving the Government really can do this now. Next they need to relook at the planned cuts to disability payments. If those cuts go ahead it will be harder for people to claim personal independence payments (PIP) and still promise to help more people into work. A Labour government should be helping people out of poverty and people need to see these changes. We can’t carry on with a system where large numbers of families are in poverty . People need the Labour government to get back on track otherwise ReformUK are waiting at the end of the tunnel and nobody deserves that!”
Now for a Wealth Tax
Cllr Leigh Redman, Leader of the Labour Group on Somerset Council, is a member of UNITE the Union who ran one of the strongest campaigns against the Winter Fuel cutbacks. Leigh said “I am pleased that common sense has prevailed with the reversal of the winter fuel cut for most pensioners. While this is a positive development, there will likely be ongoing discussion about how the initial decision was reached and the impact it may have had with council elections. It is clear that good leadership involves making difficult choices. The consequential impact on pensioners was unfortunate. Rather than continuing with repeated cuts, it has to be time for Labour to revisit its fiscal rules and consider options such as a wealth tax. As the sixth richest economy in the world, Britain has the means to protect its pensioners without placing an undue burden on them.”