Speaking in the House of Commons, James Wild MP has described the government’s u-turn on winter fuel payments as a humiliation for the Chancellor and Labour MPs who voted to take up to £300 from vulnerable pensioners.
He highlighted the serious impact the cut had on vulnerable pensioners, including many in North West Norfolk, and called on the government to apologise to those who were left struggling to heat their homes last winter.
From the outset, James has been a consistent and vocal opponent of the withdrawal of additional winter fuel payments, raising the issue repeatedly in Parliament and with ministers. He argued the cuts were a political choice that unfairly targeted pensioners and has repeatedly pressed for the restoration of support and greater transparency on future payments.
James asked ministers to apologise to his constituents and provide assurances that pensioners will not face the same uncertainty and hardship again.
James Wild MP said:
“The Minister may be in denial, but this U-turn is a humiliation for the Chancellor, who claimed that economic stability demanded taking money from vulnerable pensioners, and for all the Labour MPs who voted for it. Why did the Government not listen sooner to those who campaigned against these cruel cuts? Will he now apologise to my constituents and those across the country who were cold last winter?”
The Under Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Torsten Bell MP, said:
“This is a Chancellor who has brought stability and growth back to the economy and got wages growing once again; one who is driving investment in our public services, which will rescue them; one who has driven up public investment, which is crucial to showing that, once again, we are a country that can do the basics like building houses, filling potholes and the rest.”
