Nigel Farage and Reform UK have published a glossy video this evening showing the party’s five MPs participating in this morning’s Express campaign photo-op ahead of the Commons Winter Fuel vote.
The Daily Express called on all MPs have back the campaign for Rachel Reeves to reverse her cruel cuts policy to turn up outside the Houses of Parliament and show their strength of numbers.
MPs and peers from Reform UK, the Conservatives and the Green Party turned up to show their support, after the crusade spent the past few weeks garnering backing from MPs also including the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and Labour.
In a video this evening, Nigel Farage explained why he, along with all five Reform UK MPs turned up this morning.
Mr Farage argued: “It’s a big day – apart from the King’s Speech the biggest day since we got here – it’s the vote on the cutting for 10 million people of the winter fuel allowance.
Nigel Farage explained why he backed the Express’ campaign (Image: Reform UK)
“The Daily Express have organised a big get together of all the MPs that intend to vote against it.
“I’ve got, in Clacton, a 99-year-old constituent – Jim O’Dwyre – did over 30 missions as Tail End Charlie in Lancaster Bombers during the war, has paid into the tax system for his whole working life, and because he’s got a small pension his winter fuel allowance is being cut.
“He himself says this is an absolute disgrace for all his generation did for this country.
“So it’s a really big, strong, emotive issue.”
Posing with a copy of the Daily Express, Reform deputy leader Richard Tice described the day in parliament as “shocking,” and called Labour’s policy “evil”.
Mr Tice recounted his experience as a constituency MP, with one OAP constituent in tears as she recounted her fears about whether she’ll now see the end of this winter.
Richard Tice slammed the Government’s policy as ‘evil’ (Image: Reform UK)
“It’s an outrage, it’s shameful, it’s evil, that’s why hundreds of MPs are here.”
All five Reform UK MPs voted against Labour’s Winter Fuel cuts, though the strength of opposition wasn’t enough to overturn Sir Keir Starmer’s enormous majority.
348 MPs backed Rachel Reeves’ plan, with 228 MPs opposing.
While it was a commanding Labour victory this afternoon, around 50 of the Government’s own MPs abstained on the vote, many of whom spent the last week condemning the policy.
This evening, Silver Voices director Dennis Reed vowed to continue fighting the proposed cuts in the run up to the October Budget.
He told the Express: “It was rather sad the way in which Labour MPs were corralled to vote against their consciences.
“And it was sad to hear the Secretary of State, Liz Kendall, respond in a way that was very political.
“She didn’t give credence to the reservations from her own side and said nothing about possible mitigations.
“It was a pyrrhic victory. There is no support for this. Charities, trade unions, the public, the other political parties, the think tanks and much of the media are against it.
“The position is unsustainable and Silver Voices will continue the fight.”
