Many constituents have contacted me following the Chancellor’s Statement, and the announcement to stop the Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners not in receipt of Pension Credit and certain other means-tested benefits.
This is an incredibly difficult issue and I absolutely understand the concerns that have been raised with me. I know lots of people really close to the breadline will be impacted. I think we have to monitor the impacts of this really closely.
Unfortunately, on Monday, the Chancellor exposed the truth about the current state of our public finances – a £22 billion cover up of underfunded pledges.
We have inherited the worst financial situation since the Second World War.
Given this reality, this has meant that the Chancellor has had to make really difficult decisions to address the fiscal crisis that the new government has found itself in.
As part of measures to address this, the Chancellor has decided that the Winter Fuel Payments will now only be given to those in receipt of Pension Credit and certain other means-tested benefits which will free up millions of pounds.
The last government knowingly overspent departmental budgets and covered it up, making commitment after commitment without knowing where the money was going to come from.
The Chancellor has now announced vital other measures which will allow the Treasury to balance the budget, to make sure that our public services are able to run and we are able to commit other pledges to get this country back up and running.
Labour will always be honest with the public about the state of the country’s finances, and this means making tough decisions.
Labour will continue to make sure that those who need it continue to be supported and receive the assistance they need.
The Chancellor has repeated Labour’s manifesto commitment to protecting the triple lock for pensioners, making sure that over the next five years, over 12 million pensioners will see their State Pension increase by thousands of pounds.
I strongly believe that everyone deserves financial security in retirement and that the cornerstone of that is a decent State Pension, and Labour will continue to provide this for pensioners.
This is why Labour will also make sure that low-income pensioners that are entitled to Pension Credit, but not claiming this, are informed of their entitlement. We will be increasing work with external partners and local authorities to boost uptake and target additional support to the poorest pensioners.
This would help them to receive Winter Fuel Payment, alongside other benefits, that would help them with their specific energy costs.
The government will continue to prioritise support for pensioners through our Warm Homes Plan which will support investment in insulation and low carbon heating. The creation of GB energy will slash energy bills, reduce fuel poverty, and get the UK back on track to meet our climate goals.