MPs will finally get their say tomorrow on whether or not they back Rachel Reeves’ incredibly controversial plan to steal Winter Fuel Payments from millions of hard-up pensioners this winter.
Ms Reeves announced the plan in her first Commons outing after the election, causing outrage when she blamed the decision on a spurious ‘£22 billion black hole’ left by the outgoing Conservative government.
While many have pointed out flaws in this claimed fiscal shortfall, Ms Reeves and Keir Starmer appear determined to press on with the plan, despite warnings it will cause many pensioners to choose between heating and eating this Christmas.
This morning it was revealed Labour’s own anti-Tory dossier from 2017, when Theresa May was considering a near-identical policy, claimed thousands of older Britons could die as a result of the move.
Ahead of tomorrow’s major Commons showdown, the Express answers all the key questions readers may have.
Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves face a Commons showdown tomorrow (Image: Getty)
What is the Winter fuel Payment?
Winter Fuel Payments are a form of universal benefit given to all pensioners, and designed to cover the additional costs of heating their home over the winter month.
It was introduced by the Labour Government in 1997, while Gordon Brown was in the Treasury, and maintained by all subsequent Tory administrations.
Announcing the new handout, Mr Brown declared: “[We] are simply not prepared to allow another winter to go by when pensioners are fearful of turning up their heating, even on the coldest winter days”.
Over the following decade, a million pensioners were lifted out of poverty.
Who can claim Winter Fuel Payments now and under the proposals?
Those born before September 1958 have been entitled to between £200 and £300, depending on their specific circumstances.
Rachel Reeves’ proposed changes would mean that only those entitled to pension credit, the poorest pensioners, would be eligible for Winter Fuel Payments.
However many are arguing that while the wealthiest pensioners shouldn’t receive the benefit, Ms Reeves’ narrow cut-off will catch many poorer pensioners out who do need help with their energy bills – especially while gas and electricity prices remain so high following the start of the Ukraine war.
Around 1 in 3 of those entitled to pension credit do not claim the benefit, meaning even more who should still receive Winter Fuel Payments will also miss out this Christmas.
Winter Fuel Payments were introduced by Gordon Brown in 1997 (Image: Getty)
What happened to the Winter Fuel payment petition?
A number of petitions were sparked following Ms Reeves’ announcement in July, quickly racking up hundreds of thousands of supporters.
Dennis Reed, director of the campaign group Silver Voices, has secured 97,830 signatures on his change.org petition since July 30.
It calls on the Government to reverse “its callous decision to scrap the Winter Fuel Payment for 10 million older people from this year”.
A separate petition by Age UK has secured a whopping 500,000 backers, who agree with the group that “Cutting the Winter Fuel Payment this winter, with virtually no notice and no compensatory measures to protect poor and vulnerable pensioners, is the wrong policy decision.”
The announcement sparked a number of petitions (Image: Getty)
What time is the Winter fuel Payment vote?
The showdown in the Commons tomorrow, something Labour originally resisted before being forced into a u-turn, should take place around 2pm, depending on other Commons business.
There will likely be a Commons debate, followed by the usual 20 minute vote, after which the result will be announced by party whips.
A full breakdown of how each MP voted will be published by Parliament shortly afterwards.
Which MPs are expected to rebel?
While the Tories, SNP, Green Party, Reform UK, Plaid Cymru and independent left-wing MPs are set to oppose the policy tomorrow, the size of Labour’s majority means it would take a substantial number of rebels to prevent pensioners being hit this winter.
Around 50 Labour MPs are said to be set to oppose the policy, though Government whips are hard at work encouraging them to merely abstain rather than vote against.
However a number of Labour MPs have openly come out against the policy, and may put their principles above party loyalty tomorrow.
Newly-elected Poole MP Neil Duncan-Jordan tabled an Early Day Motion two weeks ago, calling on the government to postpone the policy beyond this Winter.
It’s now been signed by 17 fellow Labour MPs, as well as a number of independent MPs who were sacked by the Labour Party after they rebelled on the two child benefit cap vote some weeks ago.
The Labour MPs are:
- Neil Duncan-Jordan (Poole)
- Rachael Maskell (York Central)
- John Trickett (Normanton and Hemsworth)
- Clive Lewis (Norwich South)
- Nadia Whittome (Nottingham East)
- Kim Johnson (Liverpool Riverside)
- Ian Lavery (Blyth and Ashington)
- Kate Osborne (Jarrow and Gateshead East)
- Dr Simon Opher (Stroud)
- Chris Hinchliff (North East Hertfordshire)
- Mary Kelly Foy (City of Durham)
- Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Clapham and Brixton Hill)
- Dian Abbott (Hackney North and Stoke Newington)
- Grahame Morris (Easington)
- Andy McDonald (Middlesbrough and Thornaby East)
- Rosie Duffield (Canterbury)
- Chris Webb (Blackpool South)
