How Keir Starmer was hit by the biggest Commons rebellion of his premiership after forcing through cruel plans to strip 10 million pensioners of winter fuel payments
Sir Keir Starmer was hit by the biggest Commons rebellion of his premiership yesterday as he forced through cruel cuts to the winter fuel payment.
Sir Keir Starmer was hit by the biggest Commons rebellion of his premiership yesterday as he forced through cruel cuts to the winter fuel payment.
Dozens of Labour MPs defied a three-line whip, with some warning the raid would leave elderly constituents unable to turn their heating on this winter.
Only one Labour MP voted against the plan, with many rebels scared off by warnings from the whips that they could be suspended from the party. But around 50 signalled their unhappiness by abstaining.
The Prime Minister used his huge Commons majority to force through the controversial cut by 348 votes to 228.
Opponents will make a last-ditch attempt to block the plan in the Lords today. But 10million pensioners were last night warned they look almost certain to lose payments worth up to £300 this winter.
Sir Keir Starmer was hit by the biggest Commons rebellion of his premiership yesterday as he forced through cruel cuts to the winter fuel payment
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said the move, which will save £1.5billion a year, was necessary because of reckless decisions by the last government, which she said had left a £22billion black hole in the public finances
Former work and pensions secretary Esther McVey said Labour had declared war on pensioners and accused ministers of making a cynical political calculation that the Government could afford to hit pensioners because they were less likely to vote Labour.
This Government have been telling pensioners they didnt want to do this, but tough financial decisions must be made – but we all know thats poppycock, that wasnt the Governments message to the already highly paid train drivers, when they met them, money was no object, have as much as you want, she said.
The public are not as stupid as this Government thinks they are.
Veteran Tory MP Sir Edward Leigh called the raid on pensioners a punishment beating.
Tory work and pensions spokesman Mel Stride made an impassioned plea to Labour MPs to vote down the plan, telling them: Look to your conscience. You know in your heart that these measures are wrong.
Former work and pensions secretary Esther McVey said Labour had declared war on pensioners and accused ministers of making a cynical political calculation that the Government could afford to hit pensioners because they were less likely to vote Labour
Veteran Tory MP Sir Edward Leigh called the raid on pensioners a punishment beating
Tory work and pensions spokesman Mel Stride made an impassioned plea to Labour MPs to vote down the plan, telling them: Look to your conscience. You know in your heart that these measures are wrong
Many elderly Britons are worried about how they will make ends meet this winter (file image)
You know in your heart that (Labour) has broken their promises and that these measures are going to lead to untold hardship for millions of elderly and vulnerable people.
But minutes later Labour MPs trooped through the voting lobbies to pass the measure into law.
Some 53 MPs were absent from the vote, with many deliberately staying away to avoid having to back the unpopular cut. Labour sources claimed that only a dozen MPs were absent without permission. But some spoke out publicly against the policy.
Former frontbencher Debbie Abrahams warned about the potential health impact and said she had been contacted by dozens of constituents who are just clinging on financially.
Fellow Labour MP Rachael Maskell said she could not back cuts that will cause harm to pensioners in poverty.
They are telling us they are frightened, because they wont switch the switch. Because they know if they do, they will have bills that they cannot pay. And we need to protect those very vulnerable people, she said.
Former frontbencher Debbie Abrahams warned about the potential health impact and said she had been contacted by dozens of constituents who are just clinging on financially
Fellow Labour MP Rachael Maskell said she could not back cuts that will cause harm to pensioners in poverty
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: The reality is that driving through this policy will make millions of poor pensioners poorer still and we are baffled as to why some ministers are asserting that this is the right thing to do
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said the move, which will save £1.5billion a year, was necessary because of reckless decisions by the last government, which she said had left a £22billion black hole in the public finances.
Faced with that reality and the need to get the public finances on track this year, we took the difficult decision to focus winter fuel payments on those in greatest need, she told MPs.
She said ministers would concentrate on increasing the take-up of Pension Credit by the poorest pensioners, who will then be able to keep their winter fuel payments.
But campaigners condemned the decision. Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: The reality is that driving through this policy will make millions of poor pensioners poorer still and we are baffled as to why some ministers are asserting that this is the right thing to do.
Joanna Elson, chief executive of Independent Age, said: Its clear that making this decision now means many people in later life struggling in poverty will be forced to make dangerous cutbacks.
