In 2024, Labour Ministers attempted a raid on pensioner’s incomes by taking away the Winter Fuel Payment from 10 million pensioners.
Despite claiming a black hole in the public finances, Rachel Reeves had simultaneously spent £8.3 billion of taxpayers’ money on a public energy company, £7.3 billion on a national wealth fund and around £10 billion on inflation busting public sector pay deals, without asking for any improvements in productivity in return. I believe it was entirely wrong to make pensioners pay for these decisions.
The Conservative Party immediately acted to ensure that this matter was debated before Parliament and thus allowing Members of Parliament to put forward the views of many of their constituents. This move revealed that Labour took this decision without requesting a full impact assessment, stating that they could foresee “no significant, impact on the private, public or voluntary sectors.”
Unlike other parties, The Conservative Party will continue to protect pensioners from Labour’s punitive policies.
"I completely disagree with the Labour Government’s decision, which will affect thousands of pensioners across Castle Point. I believe the decisions taken by Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves have been entirely wrong and unfair. The choice to means-test eligibility for the Winter Fuel Allowance will mean losses of up to £300 for around 10 million pensioners.
The Conservative Party is completely against this plan. My colleagues and I are actively lobbying the Chancellor to rethink her decision. If Labour’s proposals are put in front of Parliament, I will vote against them. There was no requirement for the Labour Government to do this."
Dame Rebecca Harris MP, August 2024