Stroud’s MP, Dr Simon Opher, may have been misled by the new Labour government over cuts to winter fuel payments, claims Pete Kennedy, deputy leader of Stroud District Council.
Cllr Kennedy said he is “bitterly disappointed” that yesterday’s Budget confirmed the proposed cuts that have provoked widespread outrage.
The Budget came days after Stroud District Council unanimously passed a motion calling on the government to reconsider the means-testing of the winter fuel payment. Councillors from all parties voted for the motion.
Labour MP Dr Opher voted in September for the cuts, which Age UK warned risked harming up to 2 million pensioners who are just over the eligibility threshold.
At the time, Dr Opher told the press he had made clear to his government his concerns about the policy, especially about the lack of phasing or tapering for those just above the threshold. “I have been in more or less constant discussion with ministers and others,” he said. “As a result, my understanding is that, ahead of the Budget, my primary concerns will be addressed – hence my support.”
But Cllr Kennedy pointed out that no changes have been made, and the government’s Budget yesterday confirmed the original policy of restricting the £200 annual payment to the very poorest pensioners.
Cllr Kennedy said: “There’s a cross-party consensus across Stroud District that the cuts to winter fuel payment shouldn’t go ahead as planned. I welcome the bravery of Simon Opher and the local Labour councillors in raising concerns and demanding a rethink. But it seems that, despite Dr Opher being reassured that his primary concerns would be addressed, absolutely nothing has changed. The cut-off point remains a pittance and there is no phasing or tapering for people just above the threshold. Did Starmer trick his own MPs into voting for the cuts by promising changes?”
Cllr Kennedy added: “This is an issue that matters deeply to me – I’ve worked with older people in fuel poverty and witnessed first hand the desperate struggles of a proud generation having to choose between heating or eating. Starmer’s government must not fix the Conservatives’ failures by hurting some of the poorest people in society.
“So I was delighted when Dr Opher promised to ‘ensure that the implementation of the policy does indeed reflect the substantive nature of the assurances’ he was given. He will have my full support to ensure that happens. But I’m deeply suspicious about the promises he received, and I encourage Simon to demand answers from the government, as clearly they’ve not done what they assured him they would do.
“The Green Party has been opposed to these cuts since they were first announced, and the Green MPs in Parliament voted against the cuts.”
Age UK today responded to the Budget by saying: “The government’s decision not to right the wrong in this Budget is a source of enormous regret. Nothing in the Budget changes the plight of the 4 in 5 pensioners on low and modest incomes set to lose their Winter Fuel Payment this year when they simply cannot afford to do so. Older people on tight budgets can only hope and pray for a mild winter.”
Dr Simon Opher replied: “All Pete needs to do to find out where we are with this is to get in touch.
“I am one of several MPs working with our colleagues in government to see if we can do something to soften the introduction of means testing on the Winter Fuel Payment. This is on ongoing process – I’m meeting one of the ministers next week, and we are hopeful that our proposed changes will be possible.
“We are also working with a variety of agencies in Stroud to make sure that anyone affected locally can the access help and support they need through the winter period.”
