Following the decision by new Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to prevent all pensioners from accessing the Winter Fuel Payments, Leicester East MP, Shivani Raja is urging everyone to sign a petition demanding the Government U-turns on its “cruel” decision to end winter fuel payments for nearly 10 million pensioners.
The decision by the Chancellor, made in her speech to the Commons Chamber on the 29th July, means that no longer will all pensioners get Winter Fuel Payments, but instead only those in receipt of pension credit or means tested benefit will be eligible going forward.
A petition started by Age UK has seen more than 400,000 people sign, voicing their opposition against this decision by the new Labour Government, but Shivani Raja hopes those numbers can be increased in a bid to force the government to listen.
Ms Raja said:
“I have been clear from the start about my opposition to this cruel policy and I will continue to speak out against it. Our pensioners deserve better than this and with cynicism in politics running at a record high this decision by Labour, one of the first it made when it came to power, whilst at no stage mentioning it during the general election, only adds into that cynicism. Labour needs to reverse this decision now and restore the winter fuel allowance to all pensioners.
“I have added my name to the petition and I hope others will too so we can send a clear message to the new Government that targeting our pensioners is not something we will stand for.
Shivani Raja has also gone further in her challenge to Labour’s plans to limit availability for Winter Fuel Payments, by tabling a number of Written Parliamentary Questions to the Chancellor, questioning whether the Government has considered all aspects of their decision, particularly with regard to the impact had on pensioners that will no longer meet the eligibility requirements. As Parliament is still in recess, Ms Raja is awaiting a response from the Chancellor.
But Ms Raja is not the only one doubting the Government’s decision to limit eligibility. More than 50 organisations have also written to the Chancellor about this decision. The groups, which make up the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said it will result in pensioners not on means-tested benefits seeing a 15 per cent increase in their energy bills this winter.
Ms Raja added:
“For many people their only source of income is the state pension and now they will not get this much needed extra help. This is money that helped ensure they could heat their homes in the winter. It is a disastrous decision by Rachel Reeves and one people will not forgive or forget.
“I have been in touch with many of the organisations that are fighting this and will continue to offer my full support to them. I am also urging other MPs to follow suit – we all have many constituents that will be affected by this and must do everything we can to stop it happening.”
To sign the petition visit https://campaigns.ageuk.org.uk/page/154268/petition/1?ea.tracking.id=Website
