South West Wiltshire MP Andrew Murrison signatures a petition demanding the Labour Government U-turns its decision to end winter fuel payments for nearly 10 million pensioners.
Andrew is particularly worried that elderly constituents living in older, less well insulated housing stock that characterizes the area, some of it without mains gas, will struggle this winter.
But new Chancellor Rachel Reeves said no longer will all pensioners get Winter Fuel Payments only those in receipt of pension credit or means tested benefit will be eligible.
A petition started by Age UK has seen more than 400,000 people sign but Andrew hopes those numbers can be increased in a bid to force the government to listen.
Andrew said;
Pensioners deserve better than this. Where was caving in to inflation busting public sector pay demands funded from the pockets of pensioners mentioned in the manifesto Labour just stood on? Labour needs to reverse this decision now and restore the winter fuel allowance to all pensioners.
“I don't normally sign petitions but I have added my name to this one. Just a few weeks in and Sir Kier is reneging on all the reassurances he issued during the election campaign. So much for restoring trust in politics. Not a good start at all.
More than 50 organisations have also written to the Chancellor about this decision. The groups, which make up the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, said it will result in pensioners not on means-tested benefits seeing a 15 per cent increase in their energy bills this winter. Andrew Murrison added;
"For many people their only source of income is the state pension and now they will not get this much needed extra help. This is money that helped ensure they could heat their homes in the winter.
To sign the petition visit https://campaigns.ageuk.org.uk/page/154268/petition/1?ea.tracking.id=Website