York Central MP Rachael Maskell has welcomed her government’s U-turn on winter fuel payments.
Nine million pensioners in England and Wales will receive the winter fuel payment this winter, the Chancellor announced today in a £1.25 billion reverse of her plans.
The payment, worth up to £300, will be restored to the vast majority of pensioners who previously received it because anyone with an income of under £35,000 a year will now get the payment automatically.
Rachel Reeves said the government had “listened to people’s concerns” about the decision to limit the payment to the poorest pensioners last winter, and was now able to widen eligibility because Labour had restored “stability” to the economy.
In September, Labour’s Ms Maskell voted against the government’s plans to restrict the payments to only the poorest pensioners.
Today she welcomed the policy change – and said that York pensioners had suffered hypothermia.
She says the fuel payments should go up, and energy companies be taxed more to help offset the payment.
According to the End Fuel Poverty Coalition energy companies have made £500bn in profit since the start of the energy crisis.
Today she said: “It is really welcome that this Labour government has restored the winter fuel payments to older people who have an income below £35,000, which will benefit around 9 million pensioners.
“However, I now call on the Government to review the value of the payments.
“While determined to cut energy bills in this parliament and decarbonise energy to lower cost renewable energy, the relative value of the winter fuel payments has fallen significantly since its introduction and so many pensioners may still find themselves in fuel poverty despite getting the Winter Fuel Payment this winter.”
York Outer Labour MP Luke Charters supported the government cutting winter fuel payments, saying it was necessary to sort the “mess” of the economic inheritance from the previous Conservative administration.
Mr Charters said the change of policy showed a government that listens: “After inheriting a dire financial mess from the Conservatives last summer, it was up to this Government to stabilise the economy. This meant making some tough decisions based on that woeful fiscal inheritance.
“Since then, we have been working to fix the economy, and as a result, the economy is growing faster than any other in the G7.
“The Government has therefore reviewed eligibility for Winter Fuel Payments. I’m pleased today to hear that payments will be expanded to nine million pensioners this winter, for those with an income of less than £35,000.
“Over the past year, I’ve shared many stories from my constituents in York Outer with the Government, highlighting in particular those close to the threshold.
“I’m glad this feedback, along with that from others, has been heard — and access to Winter Fuel Payments will expand.”