“Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green councillors refuse to condemn cut to Winter Fuel Payment”
The Bracknell Forest Conservative Councillors put forward a clear motion urging the Labour Government to reconsider its decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment for our Borough’s pensioners. This motion was the same motion supported by the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives on Wokingham Borough Council.
In a disappointing turn of events, Labour councillors, along with their allies in the Liberal Democrats and Greens, chose to let the Government off the hook by not siding with over 16,000 pensioners in Bracknell Forest and of boldly standing up to the Government and acknowledging that this decision is unjust. Only the Conservatives have stood up for pensioners.
It's no surprise that Bracknell Forest pensioners feel let down by Labour's lack of action.
This Council notes that approximately 16,471 pensioners in Bracknell have had the Winter Fuel Payment taken away from them and only those who qualify for certain, limited means-tested benefits will continue to receive it. This Council believes that the criticism of this decision from Age UK and other charities highlights the social injustice, risks to health and wellbeing, and financial hardship posed by this sudden policy change. This Council believes that cutting the Winter Fuel Payment, with little warning and inadequate compensatory measures, will hurt local pensioners and is a damaging policy decision.
Therefore, this Council:
- notes the good work being done by the Council and our community partners to help those pensioners most in need and signpost them towards available benefits;
- instructs their Leader of the Council to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and local Members of Parliament, to demand a review of the decision to means-test the Winter Fuel Payment, in order to protect vulnerable pensioners;
- will sign the 'Save the Winter Fuel Payment for struggling pensioners' petition being run by Age UK and write to all Bracknell Forest and local Town and Parish councillors, giving them the opportunity to do the same.
