In light of the recent windfall of £1.5 billion from Octopus Energy, Wokingham’s member of parliament Clive Jones has asked the Government to use that money to reverse the Winter Fuel Allowance cut.
On September 9, the Government announced it would cut the Winter Fuel Allowance in a £1.4 billion cost saving measure. Now the Government has received the money from Octopus Energy, Mr Jones feels this is the perfect opportunity for Labour to reverse this decision.
He voted to block the cut in the House of Commons, and called the decision at the time “completely the wrong thing to be doing”.
He said that he understands the disastrous economic situation that the Government inherited from Conservatives, but maintains that this is the wrong way to fix it.
He said: “I’m extremely worried about many older pensioners, with the figures reported by charities like Age UK being deeply worrying.
“The Government has repeatedly told us that it was a regrettable decision but they were forced to make it due to the financial conditions they inherited.
“With this recent windfall from Octopus Energy, that no longer applies.
“The Government must use this £1.5 billion to protect vulnerable pensioners this winter.”
