Morecambe MP defends her vote on cuts to pensioners' winter fuel payments

The MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale has defended her decision to vote against an attempt to block plans to cut winter fuel payments to pensioners.

Lizzi Collinge MP was one of 348 MPs to vote against a Conservative motion on Tuesday.

Winter fuel payments of either £200 or £200 are normally paid in November and December.

But under plans by the new Labour government, they will now only be paid to pensioners claiming a pension credit to top up low income or other means-tested benefits, meaning millions over the age of 66 will lose out.

The cut will save £1.4bn which the government says will go towards covering a £22bn black hole they inherited from the previous Tory administration.

"Following today’s vote, in which I voted against a Conservative motion on the Winter Fuel Allowance, I have written an open letter which can be seen below," said Ms Collinge, following Tuesday's vote in Westminster.

"In summary, whilst I have concerns over the threshold for pension credit and those impacted at a lower income level, I believe that means-testing the winter fuel allowance is the right thing to do.

"This is a decision that has not come lightly, and I have had many conversations about this subject with constituents and colleagues and I have spent many sleepless nights reflecting on this vote.

"Balancing the need to provide support while also addressing the economic realities we face was no easy task. However, this decision was necessary because the previous Government left a £22bn black hole in the country’s finances this year, and so this is the right decision to get our country’s finances on a firmer footing.

"By taking the tough decisions now to protect the public finances we can begin the process of change. I am still fully committed to ensuring that pensioners receive the support they need and deserve. I will continue to fight for policies that protect the most vulnerable in our society.

"Please read attached letter below.

"Dear Residents of Morecambe and Lunesdale,

"Thank you for contacting me about the recent vote in Parliament on the Winter Fuel Allowance. I truly appreciate hearing from you and others in our community about this. I have had many conversations about this subject with constituents and colleagues and I have spent many sleepless nights reflecting on how this vote would impact pensioners across Morecambe and Lunesdale.

"On Tuesday I voted against a Conservative motion on the Winter Fuel Allowance, clearly designed to undermine the new Government’s plans to stabilise our economy. Whilst I have concerns over the threshold for pension credit and those impacted at a lower income level, I believe that means-testing the winter fuel allowance is the right thing to do. Simply put, wealthy pensioners do not need it and there are too many people who do need help not getting it because of the dire state of the economy. We still have a lot of work to do in making sure that those people who do need extra help, whether that’s through pension credit, household support fund or other benefits, get it.

"Balancing the need to provide support while also addressing the economic realities we face was no easy task. I fully understand the concerns raised about this vote, particularly around people who only just miss out on pension credit. Please know that it was not a decision I made without a great deal of thought, consultation, and consideration.

"This decision was necessary because the previous government made a series of unfunded spending commitments and left a £22bn black hole in the country’s finances this year which required immediate action. As a consequence, the new Government has been forced to make in-year spending cuts in order to tackle the in-year deficit. If no action had been taken to repair the Conservatives’ black hole, then it would have put the UK’s financial stability at risk, possibly leading to higher prices, mortgages and rents. When Liz Truss lost control of the economy it was ordinary people, including pensioners, who paid the price.

"As the Chancellor explained, this was not a decision that she wanted to or expected to make, but it was the right decision to get our country’s finances on a firmer footing. By taking the tough decisions now to protect the public finances we can begin the process of change. By providing economic stability, we can begin to attract the investment and growth our country desperately needs in order to fund our public services.

"I want to set out all the measures the new Government is taking to ensure those who do need support this winter get it. This includes, but is not limited to:

"- The Pension Triple Lock which has delivered £900 rise in pensions this year and is predicted to give a further rise of hundreds of pounds at the budget next month.

"- Extending the Household Support Fund, providing £500m of targeted support for those in the greatest need.

"- Slashing fuel poverty through our Warm Homes Plan.

"- Launching a new cross government campaign to boost its uptake because only two thirds of pensioners entitled to pension credit actually claim it.

"- Work with local organisations in each constituency to help people apply for help.

"The Government is committed to protecting the triple lock on pensions over the lifetime of this parliament. The Government is committed to slashing fuel poverty through our Warm Homes Plan, which will support investment in insulation and low carbon heating and upgrade millions of homes over this parliament. The Government is also prioritising rebuilding our public services, especially the NHS, which many pensioners and others rely on.

"This Government is absolutely determined to do everything possible to protect the poorest in society. We have announced this week that we will extend the Household Support Fund, providing £500m of targeted support for those in the greatest need. And, because winter fuel payments will continue for anyone in receipt of pension credit, we have also launched a new cross government campaign to boost its uptake - because only two thirds of pensioners entitled to pension credit actually claims it.

"Under the last Conservative government, over 800,000 eligible pensioners didn’t get the benefits they were entitled to. While they failed on Pension Credit, we are determined to make a difference and ensure thousands of pensioners claim Pension Credit which will unlock winter fuel payments and other benefits. I encourage you, your friends, family and neighbours to check if you or they are eligible by visiting the following link: www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility or by calling the Pension Credit claim line at 0800 99 1234.

"I am still fully committed to ensuring that pensioners receive the support they need and deserve. I will continue to fight for policies that protect the most vulnerable in our society, and I remain dedicated to advocating for fair solutions that allow pensioners to claim the financial assistance they are entitled to. I will work hard to make sure future measures prioritise the well-being of pensioners and ensure they can stay warm during winter without the fear of unmanageable costs.

"Once again, thank you for sharing your concerns with me. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any further questions or if there is any other way I can assist."

Prior to the vote, Charlie Edwards, Conservative county councillor for Morecambe South (pictured below), called on Ms Collinge to support not cutting the winter fuel payments.

"In this summer’s General Election, our Labour MP did not knock on a single pensioner’s door and tell them she was going to cut their Winter Fuel Payment," he said.

"So this week, our newly elected MP in Morecambe has a choice.

"To stand up for millions of pensioners who have worked hard all their lives.

"Or rob them of the Winter Fuel Payment.

"I am calling on Lizzi Collinge to do the right thing and vote against the cruel and unnecessary cut to Winter Fuel Payments for thousands of pensioners in Morecambe and Lunesdale.

"The Labour Party’s own research says 'this could result in the death of 4,000 pensioners'.

"This was not in the Labour manifesto. Nobody voted for this. And if people knew it was going to happen so quickly and so cruelly, would people have even voted Labour?"

The Conservative motion was defeated by 348 votes to 228 - a majority of 120.

Fifty-two Labour MPs did not take part in the vote, including Cat Smith, MP for Lancaster and Wyre.

We have contacted Ms Smith for comment.