LICHFIELD’S MP says backing plans to reduce the number of people eligible for the Winter Fuel Allowance was “the right decision”.
Labour’s Dave Robertson backed plans which will mean only those on Pension Credit will be able to claim the funding which is designed to help cover heating bills during the winter months.
He said the move had to be made to tackle the financial challenges facing the country.
“I voted with the government to means-test the Winter Fuel Allowance.
“As the Chancellor explained, this was not a decision that I or anyone in the Labour party wanted – or expected – to make.
“But it was the right decision to get our country’s finances on a firmer footing.”
Despite the decision, Mr Robertson said his party was “always committed to protecting the most vulnerable”.
“Under the last Labour government pensioner poverty reduced dramatically. Under this government I am confident we will reduce the the impacts of poverty for the most vulnerable – that’s why we are committed to maintaining the triple lock on pensions worth an increase of £905 this year alone.
“The Conservative government left the country in a state of economic turmoil. The £22billion of unfunded spending commitments that the Office for Budget Responsibility were not aware of have forced this government to make tough decisions to provide stability for the country.
“Ignoring this would risk repeating past government mistakes that would threaten the foundations of our economy.
“I understand that the decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Allowance will have repercussions for some pensions who will be struggling. I will be hosting sessions over the coming weeks to ensure those who are eligible for Pension Credit are claiming everything they are entitled to.”
Sarah Edwards, Labour MP for the Tamworth constituency which includes areas such as Stonnall, Fazeley and Shenstone, abstained in the vote.
Has he seen the impact assessment that the government has so far refused to publish or did he just do as he was told on blind faith?
Dave Robinson….Politics is all about choice. We chose you to represent the traditional bedrock of Labour support. Heaven knows we waited long enough to wrestle it from the Tories.
I will not itemise the many things wrong with this policy. If you don’t know, well perhaps Politics is not for you. Sufficient to say the savings will not substantially reduce the supposed deficit. What it will do is raise questions in the minds of those who elected you as to why your government chose to pick low hanging fruits when far more revenue could be raised from many tax avoiding sources.
I suspect your term in office is likely to be your last.
Lastly…Back benchers are being bullied by the PM. You are entitled to your opinions, especially when they support your constituents.
Now all Labour MP’s who voted for the cut in pensioners winter fuel allowance should be refusing to take any MP’s allowances to help fill the financial black whole, just like the pensioners.
The winter fuel allowance cost £2 billion
Arms to Ukraine costs £3 billion
Public sector pay rises costs £9 billion (above inflation awarded by Labour.
So it is ok to send arms to other countries to continue a war, pay public servants above inflation; but it is not ok to keep OAPs warm this winter.
Labour.. the party of the people.
As long as those people are in the unions that prop Labour up.
I’m sure we will remember your vote at the next election, the other local MP voted to remove the winter fuel payment too
Old people will die this winter because of this decision, some of them may be Dave’s constituents. This country generates more wealth than ever before, that wealth just rests in the hands of fewer and fewer people. It is utterly shameful to take money from those who don’t have enough before taking it from those who have more than they could ever need. It is shameful to support doing that. The Tory government made decisions that directly lead to the death of hundreds of thousands of people, it is so disappointing that this Labour one has decided to continue in the same vein. They need to do better. Dave needs to do better.
Apologies to Sarah Edwards, my bad :-(
This is a nasty Labour policy because they consider pensioners an easy target. We can protest against this I am suggesting a National Pensioners Day on the Buses to take place on October 1st. All able pensioners wether this hurts you or not stick together and from 9.30 am on 1st October board buses and travel round all day . At least we will all be warm saving on heating and it would cause chaos. Let’s do it
This guy should start training for his new job. He had one thing to do, represent his constituents. He’s been in office 3 months and has failed. The people in rented accomodation with a small private pension lent their votes. They already want them back. All of the ” I will represent you”s out of the window . He’s not fit for office . Next year council elections . Shouldn’t have given up your day job Dave. Perhaps if they make you collect the bodies??
Today in the house of commons when the winter fuel Allowance vote was called out there was some cheers from the Labour benches. Stephen Flynn SNP member of Parliament watched a Labour MP do a double fist pump as the vote to remove the winter fuel payment was called out. I agree with Philip not so nice Dave will only be a one term MP for Lichfield. Labour will never recover from this.
Dear Dave,
What job will you do in 5 years when you inevitably loose your seat?
We’ve already seen enough to know you are way out of your depth. It is easy to be a ‘nice local bloke that tows the party line’ but it isn’t what your constituents need or voted for. We wanted change.
Lichfield won’t stand for it. I think you will find this decision will follow you around like a bad smell. You’ll never be able to justify letting vulnerable pensioners freeze.
i hope Dave when he receives his £3000 + fuel allowance will be thinking of those pensioners who will be choosing between heating and eating this winter. will he be visiting the families of pensioners who will really suffer this winter, i think not because obviously you think to take money of pensioners is the right thing to do. Shame on you.
In his letter of explanation our new MP says that to mitigate this decision they will sign up 880k pensioners onto Pension Credit worth £3.9k a year. So to save £1.5 billion they aim to spend £3.4 billion. Looks like the black hole just got bigger. Typical Labour economics and hypocrisy.
Any increase coming through from the triple lock won’t be paid until after the winter. For some pensioners this will literally be too late.
He continues to spout the myth that renewables are cheaper. I wrote to him during the election campaign and also 6 weeks ago with a detailed analysis of why renewables are more expensive and why their claim to reduce bills by £300/year is a lie and asked for his comments. I have yet to receive a response to either communication.
Government is about choices. There are plenty of other ways the government could save £1.5 billion. They have made their choice and they will have to own it and its consequences.
It seems “Nice guy Dave” may not be so nice after all.
You are a disgrace.
Don’t get too comfortable in the Commons Dave.
You’ll be ousted at tthe next election.
I am so very disappointed Dave
So much noise. Let’s focus for a second on what all sensible people agree on – there are many pensioners out there who don’t need an extra £300. Sensible people can also recognise that there are pensioners who desperately need an extra £300. So the discussion should be about where the line is drawn between those who do get it and those who don’t. Retaining it as a universal benefit, especially for a lot of Lichfield pensioners who are very wealthy, is just crazy. Focusing support where it is truly needed can’t be wrong, surely?
One thing the government could is raise the tax threshold and then only pay to pensioners who don’t pay tax.
Big mistake, but I guess as you will only ever be a one term MP feel you might as well support the cut. In order to get some future junior government position? Perhaps you are planning a chicken run to somewhere else, like the Conservative Eddie Hughes did when he turned up in Tamworth.
I do hope Councillor Paul Taylor turns up on here to provide us with one of his emotive responses regarding this matter or Norman Woodward?
We have never voted Labour before and we are on our 70’s. We trusted you Dave Robertson and gave you are vote as we desperately wanted Michael Fabricant out as he was useless, feathering his nest a friend of ‘partygate’ Boris and on the Conservative gravy train, so are you, you take £300 off us even though YOU have your fuel bill paid, it is disgusting. WE WILL NEVER VOTE FOR YOU AGAIN. We do not get pension credit and we are NOT rich, we pay our way and still manage to give a small amount to charity, so no more for charity as that now begins at home. Shame on you Labour. Why don’t you go after the billions that was wasted on PPE and the Covid fraudsters to start with.
Just for the record, not all constituents who voted Labour are against this policy.
And more grief to come after 30 Oct with “tough” budget
I guess that we all knew how he was going to vote, but you sometimes hope that common sense will prevail. I would not mind so much but for the fact that no mention of this was made in Labours manifesto.
I believe that this was always the plan, but don’t think it was about the money so much, but about the Labour Party making a statement to the nation and to the markets. Be honest Dave, any money saved and I doubt that this will be much would not plug my bath, let alone this black hole you bang on about.
You inherited a stable economy, but immediately went on a spending spree 9 billion to the unions, 11 billion foreign aid, 3 billion Ukraine. O look I’ve just plugged the black hole with a billion pounds left over, should cover your subsidised meals in Parliament. Perhaps you would consider inviting some Pensioners in for a slap up meal. Putting Pensioner’s to the sword first is just not fair and yes thousands of pensioners will die early.
Bet he OK.. he’ll
be getting his allowance and winter fuel..
I expect you will be nice and toasty this winter Dave?
All MP’s receive allowances for a second home to be near parliament which includes fuel bills. This is irrespective of any decisions regarding taxation or law changes. The tories failed to disclose huge extra borrowing which will have to be paid for including by them if they had been returned to power.
I have no problem with this benefit being means tested. I don’t understand anyone out there who wants to give Tax Payers money to those that don’t need it. Some don’t want it means tested because it would reveal how wealthy they are. I agree though that DWP really needs to get it’s act together and find all those that should be claiming pension credits so that they do receive it. They know how much people are receiving, nothing is secret these days, so I can’t see why it should be a problem for them to do so.
so now the unions have voted against creating misery for pensioners : our MP is lock step with fools and his blind support for reeves and starmer is well noted as being against what people want. so much for starmers insistence that theyre a party of ” service” Dave robertson is drowning in a sea of his own making.
For the hard of thinking:
Income tax does not pay for anything, it is a means to return electronic money to the Treasury to control inflation. Pension and indeed all government expenditure creates money according to political ideology, by ordering the Bank of England to issue it electronically. The government BTW has no need to borrow commercially, and bonds are actually savings with government with guaranteed returns.
Part of the post World War 2 social contract that gave us the NHS included the idea of universal benefits accorded to ALL citizens regardless of income. The NHS is the last of these, even Child Benefits have been modified.
D. Robertson MP belongs to the dominant centre right wing of Labour, the left having been defeated and depowered by Starmer; however some Trade Unions continue Labour’s founding ideals, hence their opposition.