Government accused of trying to hide ‘horrific’ impact of winter fuel squeeze September 14, 2024 Sir Keir Starmer’s government faced accusations of trying to hide from the “horrific” impact of the decision to strip winter fuel payments from millions of pensioners. More than 80 per cent of people aged 80 and over will lose out, as will more than 70 per cent of pensioners. Even among those who should still [...]
Pensioners and the politics of perceptions September 12, 2024 The furore over winter fuel payments is driven by the false idea that pensioners are uniformly old, frail and poor. But in politics, feelings often matter as much as facts, says John Oxley This week’s tussle over the winter fuel allowance has highlighted one of the problems of our politics – how much of it [...]
The winter fuel cut is Starmer’s first peek into the Too Difficult Box. Now give him courage! September 11, 2024 Means-testing winter fuel payments show Starmer is willing to peek into the Too Difficult Box, but he must resist to urge to slam it shut again, writes James Price
Winter fuel payments: Just one Labour MP rebels in Commons vote on policy September 10, 2024 Just one Labour MP – Jon Trickett – rebelled against the government in a House of Commons vote on plans to means test the winter fuel payment to pensioners. The government won the vote with 348 votes in favour to 228 against, while some MPs – including 53 Labour members – abstained on the ballot, [...]
State pension set to rise by £460 next year amid winter fuel debate September 10, 2024 This would mean that the state pension rises to around £11,962 next year from £11,502, an increase of almost £9 per week.
No Labour MP wants to cut winter fuel payments, but our commitment to pensioners is steadfast September 9, 2024 Tomorrow’s vote on winter fuel payments will be tough, but making and explaining hard choices is what Labour was elected to do, says Dan Tomlinson Tomorrow I will be voting for something which no Labour MP came into politics to vote for: means testing the winter fuel payment. That I and hundreds of my colleagues [...]