Great Manchester (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Mayor Andy Burnham has expressed that more pensioners should be able to maintain their winter fuel allowance.Â
The Labour Mayor of Greater Manchester stated Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, must not rule out altering the proposed threshold at which pensioners will be qualified for the payments. Under procedures to be voted on in Parliament, and which will come into force this winter, the fuel payments will be means-tested and provided only to those in receipt of pension credit. This will represent 10 million pensioners losing out on the support.
How Does Andy Burnham Propose to Reform Winter Fuel Allowance?
Mr Burnham expressed those eligible for pension credit were usually “reluctant” to apply and that the eligibility threshold was “pretty low”, requesting the Government to think again. He told BBC Radio 4: “I would express it is clear to me that the Government has been dealt a very bad hand of cards from the previous administration when it comes to the public finances. I also think there is a chance for reform of the winter fuel allowance.
“I would just request the Government not to rule out the chance of a higher threshold, or indeed a taper, of winter fuel allowance. Our background in Greater Manchester is that pensioners are often reluctant to spread for pension credit for several reasons. And, anyway, the threshold at which you get it is pretty low. And so I recognise how challenging the situation is, and I do think there is a case for reform – but I would ask them not to rule out putting in that possible extra help for pensioners who are right at that cliff edge.”
Seventeen Labour MPs have placed their names to an Early Day Motion condemning the move, calling for its undertaking to be postponed. It is unlikely that many on the Government benches will vote against the propositions in the Commons, but several could abstain.
Richard Burgon, an ex-Labour MP who had the whip discontinued for six months in July after revolting over the two-child benefit cap, stated the cut would “result in the deaths of pensioners”.
How Does the Government Justify the Restriction on Winter Fuel Allowance?
Jonathan Reynolds, the Business Secretary, stated restricting the winter fuel allowance would enable “fix the foundations” of the public finances and secure “a better future”. He said: “We have made it obvious this is a tough decision – it is not something we would ideally be holding to do, but the black hole we have inherited is real. We have to take steps to fix that.
“This is a substantial part of what we have to do because of that. To put it into practical assignments so people understand it, in my division the kind of overspending that was put onto the Treasury Reserve includes something like compensation for postmasters, it includes money for the steel industry. Setting the foundations of the country isn’t just about challenging things like this, which are decisions ideally you wouldn’t have to make.”