As part of my work as our MP, I have recently been contacted by many pensioners with very serious concerns about the Labour Government’s plans to remove the Winter Fuel Payment from almost all older people. These payments of £300 have proved an invaluable source of help to millions of older people to help towards the cost of heating their homes through the winter months. Labour plans to remove the payment from almost all pensioners, including those with incomes less than half the minimum wage and even 84% of those pensioners who are living in poverty.
Reading the emails I have received, it is clear the planned removal of this payment is causing considerable distress and worry. Many pensioners tell me that they are really concerned about whether they will be able to afford to heat their homes as temperatures drop. One local pensioner wrote to me: “The allowance meant I could turn the heating on. Now I fear hypothermia during the coming winter months”.
Combined with the loss of the Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, an 80-year-old in our local area on just £13,000 a year will receive £600 less energy support this winter compared to last. Labour has chosen to hand out £10 billion of inflation-busting pay rises to train drivers and others at the behest of trade unions, but are slashing benefits for low-income pensioners are the same time.
Of course, working people and young people need help too, which I why I have successfully supported cuts in national insurance tax, cuts to first time buyer stamp duty tax and rises in the minimum wage.
Rest assured, I will be voting against the Labour Government’s proposals when they come to the House of Commons shortly, and I have spoken on the BBC and in the House of Commons last week to set out my concerns (video above).
If you agree we must protect vulnerable local pensioners, please do sign my petition at:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CroydonPensioners
Please share this post with as many friends and neighbours as you can so that they can sign the petition too.
Rt Hon Chris Philp MP
Member of Parliament for Croydon South
