Greg Stafford joined his Conservative colleagues in the House of Commons today to vote against the Labour Government’s plans to scrap the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners across the country.
The vote was brought to the House following pressure from the opposition benches after the Government had initially said there would be no debate on the plans.
In recent weeks, MPs from all parties have faced calls from their constituents to vote against the policy which will now take away much-needed support from most pensioners.
Greg signed an Early Day Motion tabled by the Conservatives, which committed the House to consider the annulation of the new policy.
The motion today did not pass, voted down by the Labour Government with a majority of 120 votes.
This means that come the winter, most pensioners will lose the financial support.
“Labour’s damaging decision to scrap this scheme today highlights where the new Government’s priorities lie.
The outcome of this policy is that over 18,000 residents in Farnham and Bordon will be cut from the scheme, leaving just over a thousand eligible claimants remaining in the whole constituency.
I have been contacted by pensioners and their relatives who are now concerned for the winter ahead, especially following the news that the energy price cap will be increasing this October."
In this uncertainty I will be contacting relevant charities, groups, and organisations in the coming months to offer my support as the local MP to see where I may help.”
The scrapping of this schemes marks one of the first u-turns of the new Government, after Darren Jones – now Chief Secretary to the Treasury – had said during the election on LBC that Labour had no plans to change pensioner benefits.
To drive support for the Conservative motion in Parliament prior to today’s vote, Greg had called on constituents to sign the petition put forward by AGE UK, calling on the Government to reverse its plan; the petition reached more than half a million signatures.
The plans come at the same time the Government has awarded an above-inflation fourteen percent pay rise to train drivers, with the announcement of the policy itself made on the same day a pay deal was made with the British Medial Association.
“The former Conservative Government made their priorities clear and protected the support for those that need it.
Thanks to the schemes like the Winter Fuel Payments and Cost of Living payments, the Conservatives reduced the number of pensioners living in absolute poverty by more than 200,000.
I am going to continue to fight for the interests of residents in Farnham and Bordon. I am deeply concerned that, now in Government, Labour are beginning to undo years of hard work, putting vulnerable and elderly residents in my constituency at risk.”
