Sutton MPs vote to protect over 25,000 pensioners in the borough from Winter Fuel Allowance cut

Liberal Democrat MPs Bobby Dean (Carshalton and Wallington) and Luke Taylor (Sutton and Cheam) have announced they will be voting against the Government’s planned cut to the Winter Fuel Allowance.

It comes as a new poll commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed the staggering effects of the cut to the winter fuel allowance this winter.  The poll of pensioners showed that three in four (75%) expect to be affected by the Government’s cut to winter fuel allowance payments.

Staggeringly, over half (55%) of UK pensioners polled said they would likely be heating their homes less this winter, while 4 in 10 will look to cut back on other ‘essentials’. 1 in 5 (19%) pensioners are planning to eat less this winter due to the cut. 

Locally, the analysis shows an estimated 25,753 pensioners in Sutton Borough are at risk of losing the £300 payment, which helps with heating bills in the cold winter months.

Research from the charity Age UK shows the proposed cut to Winter Fuel Payments will mean two million will find paying their energy bills a real stretch and will be seriously hit by this cut.

Liberal Democrats initially called for a vote by tabling a motion and will now take the opportunity to oppose the government.

Bobby Dean MP for Carshalton and Wallington said:

 “No one should be facing a choice this winter between a warm home and a warm meal. Yet, I’m hearing from more and more pensioners in my constituency of Carshalton and Wallington who are frightened that the help they rely on to get by will be taken away.

"Age UK estimates that as many as two million pensioners will be plunged into poverty by this cut. While there will be some wealthy pensioners who do not rely on Winter Fuel Allowance, this blunt measure is going to hit far too many vulnerable people this winter.

 
Luke Taylor MP for Sutton and Cheam commented:

“Since these plans [to cut winter fuel payments] have been announced, I have been inundated with local people expressing their disappointment at this decision, so I’ll be standing up for them in Parliament.

“While we understand the dire state the Conservatives left the public finances in, now is not the time to be cutting support to some of the most vulnerable people in our society.”