LIBERAL Democrat MP for Wokingham Clive Jones says that he will be voting against the Government’s planned cut to the Winter Fuel Allowance.
His announcement comes in the wake of a new poll of pensioners, commissioned by the Liberal Democrats.
Of the 564 people polled aged 65 and older, 75% of these expect to be affected by the proposal.
Just over half said they expected to have to reduce how much they heat their homes this winter, 40% were looking to cut back on other essentials, and 20% were planning to eat less this winter as a result.
It is estimated that 16,577 pensioners in Wokingham are at risk of losing the £300 Winter Fuel Allowance, which helps with heating bills in the cold winter months.
Research from the charity Age UK shows the proposed cut could mean two million pensioners will find paying their energy bills difficult and will be impacted by this cut.
Liberal Democrats initially called for a vote by tabling a motion and will now take the opportunity to oppose the Government.
Wokingham MP Clive Jones, said: “Liberal Democrats will be voting against the Government’s cut to Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners.
“We cannot stand by and allow millions of pensioners to endure another even colder winter in a cost of living crisis.
“Since these plans have been announced I have heard from countless local people expressing their disappointment at this decision so I’ll be standing up for them in Parliament.
“While we understand the dire state the Conservatives left the public finances in, now is not the time to be cutting support to some of the most vulnerable people in our society.”
