1 month ago
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MPs will be given a vote on the government's move to cut winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners.
The government had been resisting holding a vote on the cut announced in July, which means only those claiming pension credits will get the payment that helps pensioners pay their winter heating bills.
However, following pressure from other parties who oppose the cut, Commons leader Lucy Powell has announced it will be debated on 10 September followed by a vote.
The cut is expected to reduce the number of pensioners receiving winter fuel payments of up to £300 a year, by 10 million - from 11.4 million to 1.5 million.
People aged 66 or over receive the payment. The cut will save the government about £1.4bn this financial year.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the cut was necessary to provide stability to the economy after Labour accused the previous Conservative government of leaving a £22bn "black hole" in the UK's finances.
Ministers are now urging 800,000 pensioners eligible to claim pension credit but who are not, to do so.
They have also said maintaining the pensions triple lock, introduced by the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition, will help pensioners with £1,000 more over the next five years - about equal to what they would receive in winter fuel payments.
The triple lock ensures state pensions increase each April by whatever is the highest - inflation, the average UK wage increase, or 2.5%.
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Several Labour MPs have voiced their anger over the winter fuel payment cut but it remains to be seen if they will rebel against the government in the vote.
Days after winning the election in July, Sir Keir suspended seven of his MPs from the party after they rebelled to back an amendment to scrap the two-child benefit limit.
The Conservatives said Labour had been "dragged" to the House of Commons by them to hold a vote on their "cruel decision" to cut winter fuel payments.
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Mel Stride, Conservative shadow work and pensions secretary, said: "We welcome that the Labour government have U-turned and there will now be a vote on the Conservative motion to scrap the cruel cut to winter fuel payments.
"Labour thinks it is right to give their union paymasters an inflation-busting pay rise over protecting vulnerable pensioners, just as bills are going up.
"This tells you everything you need to know about the government's values.
"Labour still wants to stop this vital support for the most vulnerable pensioners, but we would urge all MPs to do the right thing and back this Conservative motion to stop this punishing cut."
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Starmer defends cutting winter fuel payments
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Former prime minister Rishi Sunak accused his successor at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday of taking the payment away from pensioners to give to "highly paid train drivers".
In August, the government and rail union Aslef agreed a pay deal to end strike action.
Train drivers will now get a 5% rise backdated for 2022 to 2023, a 4.75% rise for 2023 to 2024 and a 4.5% increase for 2024 to 2025 - a total of 14.25% over three years.
An average salary for a train driver in London is just below £60,000 a year.
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