UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Reform UK candidate Sarah Pochin supported targeted winter fuel aid, clashing with Nigel Farage and Reform UK’s stance against Labour cuts to the allowance.
As reported by The Independent, Reform UK’s by-election candidate backed means testing winter fuel payments, despite the party leader labelling the policy as “vindictive.”
What did Sarah Pochin say about winter fuel payments?
Sarah Pochin, the candidate aiming to replace Mike Amesbury in Runcorn and Helsby, endorsed the idea of providing winter fuel payments to those who need them, while excluding those who don’t.
A video from 2017, recently resurfaced by the Reform UK Exposed group, shows Ms Pochin stating,
“We have so much else we need to spend our money on, like sorting out the adult social care issue.”
She claimed that 800,000 individuals residing in Spain were receiving the winter fuel payment during that period.
Ms Pochin, who had her social media accounts deactivated following her candidacy for Reform UK, has reactivated them, revealing her past support for the Tory Party.
The Reform UK candidate shared photos on Facebook with former Conservative prime ministers Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, and Theresa May.
Following inquiries from the media about the photos, she restricted her account once again.
Sarah Pochin’s winter fuel stance clashes with Nigel Farage
Ms Pochin’s previous endorsement of means-testing winter fuel payments contrasts sharply with Mr Farage and Reform UK’s firm opposition to Labour’s plan to cut the payments for millions of pensioners.
Following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ announcement in July that limited winter fuel payments to those already claiming pension credit, Mr Farage has slammed the policy as “cruel, vindictive, and cynical.”
In September, Mr. Farage highlighted that all five Reform MPs voted to maintain the Winter Fuel Allowance, adding,
“New statistics show that Labour took the Winter Fuel Allowance away from 30,109 pensioners in Clacton.”
He pledged,
“Reform will continue to campaign against this vindictive policy.”
Ms Pochin’s commitment to means testing the payment raises concerns, given her history as a Tory party member.
Before joining Reform, she served as a Conservative councillor in Cheshire East and later ran as an independent before joining Reform.
What did Labour sources say about Sarah Pochin’s Tory past and trustworthiness?
A Labour source stated,
“It seems that for everything Nigel Farage’s candidate has said during this election, her past as a Tory and all they’re responsible for, comes back to haunt her. How can the people of Runcorn and Helsby trust a word she says?”
What did Reform UK say about Sarah Pochin’s views on the winter fuel allowance?
A Reform UK spokesman stated,
“Sarah was expressing a personal view that those living abroad should not be eligible for the Winter Fuel Allowance to ensure that those who require it do receive it.”
He added,
“Sarah and Reform UK are opposed to Labour’s cruel cut to the Winter Fuel Allowance.”
15 candidates running in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election
- Catherine Blaiklock – English Democrats
- Dan Clarke – The Liberal Party
- Chris Copeman – Green Party
- Paul Michael Duffy – Liberal Democrats
- Peter Ford – Workers Party of Britain
- Howling Laud Hope – The Official Monster Raving Loony Party
- Sean Houlston – Conservative and Unionist Party
- Jason Philip Hughes – Volt United Kingdom
- Alan McKie – Independent
- Graham Harry Moore – English Constitution Party
- Paul Andrew Murphy – Social Democratic Party
- Sarah Joanne Pochin – Reform UK
- Karen Louise Shore – Labour Party
- John Stevens – Rejoin EU
- Michael Williams – Independent
Recent survey reveal about Nigel Farage
A new survey reveals that Nigel Farage and Keir Starmer are equally favoured by voters to become the next prime minister. The findings suggest the Reform UK figurehead is tied with the Labour leader in public expectations for the premiership.
Reform UK has maintained national support above 20% throughout the year, pushing the Conservatives into third place in the polls.
What did Nigel Farage say about allowing chlorinated chicken into the UK?
Nigel Farage has endorsed the inclusion of chlorinated chicken from the US in the UK trade agreement.
He stated,
“If you have a look at the chicken we are currently importing from Thailand, you look at the conditions they’ve been reared in, and that every single bag of pre-made salad in every single supermarket has been chlorinated … once those basics have been accepted I’ll have a debate with you.”