In the House of Commons, Dr Neil Hudson MP exposed the impacts of Labour’s plan to cut Winter Fuel Payments from 10 million older people across the UK, during yesterday’s Opposition Day debate held by the Conservative Party following Labour voting to cut Winter Fuel Allowance in Parliament.
In that debate, Dr Hudson revealed that the Labour Government have shockingly admitted to him, in their response to a Parliamentary Question he asked, that 15,744 people in Epping Forest could lose between £200 and £300 of support with their energy bills this Winter, because of Labour’s move. Many of these constituents may also be those who are just outside the Pension Credit threshold just making them ineligible for the support under the changes.
Dr Hudson also warned of the real risk to older people’s health if they are unable to heat their homes. Dr Hudson also warned of the increased risk of respiratory disease, strokes, higher blood pressure and hypothermia that older people could face if unable to stay warm this winter.
This speech is the latest facet of his ongoing campaign for Labour to reverse these cuts. Labour originally intended to avoid scrutiny and oversight on the move by instituting the change through secondary legislation that does not require a debate, but he ensured yesterday’s Opposition Day debate took place by signing a motion tabled by the Leader of the Opposition Rishi Sunak, with Conservative colleagues, leading to a vote in the Commons. Dr Hudson and the Conservatives voted against the cuts to Winter Fuel Payments.
Dr Hudson has also continued to ensure the move is scrutinised by submitting Written Parliamentary Questions to the Department for Work and Pensions about the measure, ensuring oversight and proper assessment of the impact the removal of Winter Fuel Payments will have on older people in Epping Forest and across the country.
Despite the move being voted for by the Labour Government, he will continue to campaign for Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated so older people are protected and kept warm this winter.
Following the debate, Dr Hudson commented:
“Labour’s vote to remove Winter Fuel Payments from nearly 16,000 of my constituents is heartless and quite frankly shames us as a compassionate nation. With temperatures due to drop and energy bills to rise this winter, I know many of my constituents will be very concerned with how they will keep warm this Winter. This is particularly true for my constituents who face health conditions that require them to remain inside for prolonged periods.
“I will continue to do everything in my power as an MP to challenge this decision and call on the Government to do the right thing by those who deserve dignity and respect in retirement, by reinstating the Winter Fuel Allowance.”
Dr Hudson's speech can be viewed in full at the following links:
Parliamentlive.tv from 16:57:00: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/d439fb88-5c5c-48c5-a0db-c715e09f78d2?agenda=True
Hansard Transcript: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2024-09-10/debates/5A9A6942-10A6-46B4-AA27-2B9A481C9FE0/WinterFuelPayment#contribution-FB04463F-926C-4B2D-830B-52D91DA66719
Dr Hudson’s Written Parliamentary Questions and the Government’s responses can be found here:
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-08-30/3220
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-09-03/4046
