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Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
Labour has been accused of being “cruel” over cuts to the winter fuel payment as figures emerged showing almost 800,000 pensioners who need the benefit will lose it this winter.
Keir Starmer is facing increased pressure with Unite, the party’s biggest union backer, reportedly submitting a motion to Labour’s party conference calling for the prime minister to reverse the controversial move.
It comes as figures released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) showed 780,000 low income pensioners who do not claim certain benefits to make them eligible will lose the fund, worth up to £300 a year.
Unite’s motion to the party’s conference this month, reported by Sky News, presents a potential rift among members. The union’s general secretary Sharon Graham told the outlet: “There is no question that Britain is better off under Labour… but people voted for change and they now need to see that change.
“The government needs to dump its cruel winter fuel policy… I make no apology for holding Labour’s feet to the fire.”
Under Labour’s means-testing of the benefit, only pensioners who receive pension credit or certain other benefits will continue to receive the allowance – but many, although eligible for the benefits, have not applied.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the move passed through Parliament last week is necessary to help fill a “£22 billion black hole” in the public finances. The government expects to save about £1.3 billion through the measure.
It will see a total of 10 million people stripped of the allowance this winter.
The new figures, published in response to a Freedom of Information request, are based on “equality analyses” rather than impact assessments, the DWP has said.
However, in its FOI response, the DWP said that while those with a disability will be disproportionately likely to retain the payment, around 71 per cent people with a disability will still lose entitlement.
The revelations have reignited a row over the policy, which has been attacked by both unions and opposition critics as it sets out to strip about 10 million pensioners of the support with their energy bills.
Conservative Party chairman Richard Fuller said: “At the start of this week, Labour MPs marched through the lobbies to cover up the impact of the winter fuel cuts which will slash support for many pensioners in their own constituencies.
“This shocking new data, sneaked out by the Government, now shows 780,000 people who should be entitled to the payment will lose out as will 1.6 million people with a disability.”
He called on Labour to “immediately” conduct and publish a full impact assessment of “this harmful policy”.
Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesperson, Wendy Chamberlain MP said: “Pensioners across the country are terrified that during a cost of living crisis, the government is set to strip desperately needed support away from the most vulnerable.
“This lays bare what a catastrophic decision the new government has taken for millions of pensioners.
“The new Labour government must reverse course immediately, ditch these cruel cuts, and get pensioners the support they need this winter.”
In 2017, Labour claimed Conservative plans to means-test the winter fuel allowance could lead to almost 4,000 deaths.
A government spokesperson said: “While it is not routine to publish advice as part of the development of policy, we have published the equality analysis on winter fuel payment eligibility.
“Our focus is on ensuring that those who should be claiming this support are receiving it alongside the wider support for vulnerable households, including the warm homes discount, worth £150, and household support fund to help people with the cost of living and energy bills.
“Over a million pensioners will continue to receive the winter fuel payment and, through our commitment to protect the triple lock, those on the full new state pension will receive an extra £400 – twice the average winter fuel payment.”
