, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, said:
“Labour are playing games with pensioners with many facing the
risk of having to choose between eating and heating this
winter.
“Today Labour's Defence Secretary said there would only be a vote
on their decision to cut Winter Fuel Payments after the Budget
despite the fact the cut will come into force before the Budget.
“It is appalling that Labour are cutting pensioners' winter fuel
payment just as bills are going up. They must stop running scared
of their own MPs and guarantee a vote before these measures come
into effect.”
Notes to Editors
-
This morning, confirmed there will not be a
vote on the decision to scrap Winter Fuel Payments.
STUDIO: ‘While you're with us this morning, Mr.
Healey, can we just ask you about a subject which we get
messages from our viewers about every single morning, about
your decision to scrap the winter fuel payments for millions of
pensioners in the weeks ahead, we understand there's still no
plan to have a vote on that, a debate on that in the House of
Commons. Why not?' HEALEY: ‘What you'll see next month
when the chancellor introduces the budget, you'll see votes in
the normal way, then that will be an opportunity for the House
of Commons to vote on a range of measures that the government
will have to take' (BBC Breakfast, 3 September 2024,
archived).
-
The Conservative Party submitted an Early Day Motion to
challenge the Government to hold a debate on Winter Fuel
Payments on 23 August 2024. The Conservative Party
submitted this motion: ‘That a humble Address be presented to
His Majesty, praying that the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment
Regulations 2024 (S.I., 2024, No. 148), dated 22 August, a copy
of which was laid before this House on 22 August, be annulled'
(The Evening Standard, 23 August 2024, link).
