BROMSGROVE’S MP Bradley Thomas has voted against the Labour Government’s cuts to winter fuel payments.
Today (September 10), a vote was held in parliament over Labour’s plans to axe payments for more than 10 million pensioners across the UK.
Labour MPs backed the Government’s plans to end the payments for a number of pensioners who will no longer be eligible as a result of the means testing changes.
According to the Government website, pensioners will only be eligible if receiving any one of the following benefits including Pension Credit, Universal Credit, income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income Support, Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit.
This means around 20,000 pensioners in the Bromsgrove district will lose between £200 to £300 to help with their heating bills this coming winter, according to Age UK.
Bradley is committed continuing to fight this decision and residents can still make sure their voices are heard by signing Bradley’s petition which calls on the Government to scrap the cuts.
Bradley said: “Labour MPs had a choice this week: condemn pensioners in their constituencies into a choice between eating or heating or back the Conservative motion to reject the Government’s cruel Winter Fuel Payment cuts.
“They shamefully choose to take away vital support for thousands of pensioners in Bromsgrove.
“I however stood up for pensioners in my constituency and voted against Labour’s cruel axing of vital heating bill support.
“While Labour is giving their union paymasters a pay rise, yet feel happy to cut vital payments to pensioners, it tells you all you need to know about the Government’s priorities as we head towards Autumn and Winter.
“The fight isn’t over, and ahead of the Budget I will continue to encourage residents to sign my petition so we can make it clear to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor that the people of Bromsgrove want Labour’s decision reversed.”
Bradley’s reference to a pay rise for union paymasters relates to Labour’s recent decision to offer union workers an above inflation pay rise, namely railway employees.
Visit https://www.bradleythomas.org.uk/winter-fuel-payments-petition to view Bradley’s petition.
