Changes to heating costs in winter branded as a “punitive measure” for pensioners

Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Mel Stride told a noisy House of Commons that Labour was prioritising public sector pay rises “on the backs of vulnerable pensioners”.

The government stressed that the proposed changes were necessary to plug a “£22 billion black hole” in public finances left by its Conservative predecessors.

The Father of the House of Commons, Sir Edward Leigh, described Labour’s claims about the previous government’s financial decisions as “absolute and utter nonsense”.

A Conservative motion seeking to block the policy was defeated by a majority of 120 MPs on Tuesday, but some Labour backbenchers had said they could not support the cut, which would see millions of pensioners lose their payments.

Before the vote, Mr Stride made a “passionate appeal” to Labour MPs to “listen to your conscience”, adding: “You know in your heart that these measures are wrong.”

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall accused the Conservatives of “feigned outrage” and urged MPs to work with the Government and local authorities to ensure pensioners get the money they are entitled to through Pension Credit.

On Tuesday, Stride said: “Labour candidates across the country have gloated that their manifesto makes no mention of taking action on this specific issue.

“But look at the last few weeks, what has happened? What has happened to integrity? What has happened to transparency? It has been thrown out the window.

“They have already broken promises and the special contract they sought to make with the British people based on integrity and decency has shattered into a million pieces.”

He added: “Politics is always about choices and the current government has caved in to the union donors.

“The salaries are well above the rate of inflation, 22% for junior doctors, 14% for train drivers, and they have worked for the unions’ donors on the backs of defenseless pensioners. And that is not right.”

Former Conservative minister Sir Edward said there needed to be a “serious debate” about the overall package for pensioners, noting that he had previously questioned aspects of the triple lock.

He told the House of Commons: “It is a very difficult debate but I understand that the share of total benefits to pensioners as a proportion of GDP cannot be allowed to increase every year because that would ultimately bankrupt the country. And we need a social contract between older people like me and younger people, particularly in relation to housing.”

Sir Edward expressed concern for people who receive a small occupational pension but are not entitled to pension credit, saying they were “watching every penny” but would suddenly lose winter heating allowances.

He added: “I’ll tell you what this is about: it’s about a beating.”

Sir Edward described the “so-called £22 billion black hole” as “pure accounting trickery”, adding: “The Labour Government is now trying to prove politically that the Conservative Party has ruined the country and that is why we must punish pensioners. This is absolute nonsense.”

In an opposition debate on winter heating subsidies, also held on Tuesday, Mr Stride criticised the Government for failing to produce an impact assessment.

He said: “We have received no explanation as to why no impact assessments have been provided. This is a major policy change that will disentitle up to 10 million pensioners, including many who are already living in poverty.”

Former Home Secretary Dame Priti Patel also called for an impact assessment. She said the cancellation of payments was an “attack” on pensioners and branded Sir Keir Starmer’s government “cruel and ideological”.

She said: “Who would have thought that one of the first acts of this cruel, ideological Labour government would be to attack the country’s pensioners and cut winter heating subsidies.

“Let’s be honest: we are witnessing the country’s pensioners falling victim to an ideological choice, to the betrayal of the Labour Party, while literally succumbing to the unions’ donors, with their payments shoveling huge public spending into their pockets.”

Conservative backbencher Sir Roger Gale (Herne Bay and Sandwich) said that while he agreed with the idea of ​​means testing the winter fuel payment, the way it was being introduced was “cruel and heartless”.

He added: “I have no objection to the principle, but I have major objections to the way it is being implemented.”