Around 10,065 pensioners in Leicester East will now lose up to £300 in Winter Fuel Payment after Labour MPs voted to scrap the scheme in the House of Commons on 10 September. In total across Leicester City, it is expected nearly 29,000 pensioners will lose their Winter Fuel Payment.
In total, 347 Labour MPs, including Leicester West Labour MP, Liz Kendall, voted to cut the payments, despite warnings that pensioners would be forced to choose between heating and eating this winter.
After the vote, which only came about after strong pressure from Conservatives, Shivani Raja MP for Leicester East said she would continue to fight to help protect vulnerable older people during the winter and will lobby the Government to change their plans.
And said she hoped pensioners would not forget the decision by Keir Starmer and his Labour Government while their union paymasters enjoyed above inflation pay rises.
Commenting after the vote, Shivani Raja MP said:
“This heartless decision just shows clearly where Keir Starmer and his Labour Government have fixed their priorities and it is not with the 10,065 pensioners who live here in Leicester East, or 28,375 pensioners across the City.
“Despite knowing older people will be struggling to pay to heat their homes this winter – their own report said so – Labour MPs still decided to take this money away from pensioners.
“It has not taken long for Labour ministers and this Government to reveal their true colours.
“I voted against this plan and will continue to support vulnerable pensioners through the winter months as best as I can.”
