Government u-turns on winter fuel cuts

Following enormous public pressure and campaigning by MPs, the Prime Minister has u-turned on winter fuel payment cuts.

Removing this important allowance was a serious concern for many here in Orpington, with hundreds of you writing to share how you stood to be personally affected or worried how your loved ones would afford to stay warm over winter.

I campaigned extensively with the Conservative Opposition to force a reversal and I am pleased to say this is now set to be delivered.

This humiliating climbdown calls into question the government’s genuine concerns for pensioners. The decision appears to have had more to do with placating rebellious backbenchers and salvaging record low opinion polls than ensuring people can enjoy dignity in retirement.

All of the government’s prior defences for this cut never added up. It was simply a political choice which broke promises made before the General Election to protect pensioners.

The government’s contrived and discredited excuses about a financial black hole rang hollow when they were simultaneously pledging to spend £11.6 billion on overseas climate aid; £8.3 billion for an energy company which will not produce any energy and £10 billion in above-inflation pay awards for their trade union masters – with yet even more demands having been recently capitulated to.

The Prime Minister must now give action to his words and provide details of what the new policy will look like so that pensioners have certainty for the future.