Salford Mayor backs MP’s letter urging Winter Fuel Payment u-turn

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett has backed the MP’s letter to the Chancellor urging her to reconsider the decision to cut Winter Fuel Payments.

Salford MP,  Rebecca Long-Bailey, wrote a letter to the Chancellor after Parliament approved plans to scrap payments to pensioners to help towards their energy bills over winter.

As a result, those who do not receive pension credit or other qualifying benefits will miss out on the payments worth between £100 and £300 per year.

Throughout the letter, the Salford MP shared her concerns over the cut, saying: “So many of my constituents in Salford have told me that cuts to winter fuel payments are the wrong choice, that it will cause them significant harm, and they are frightened…”

Throughout the letter, she continue to share her concerns citing statistics from Age UK revealing that 8,400 people in the Salford constituency will be impacted by the decision.

The Salford MP continued to express her concern about the impact on local services and authorities, adding: “It is feared that there will be a significant impact on local support services, increasing financial and administrative pressures on the already strained Local Authority for emergency financial support.”

Throughout the letter she continued to share her fears that the proposed decision does not consider those on a low-income who fall just below the threshold to receive the payment.

As she said: “These cuts do not take into account those with low incomes that are just above the pension credit entitlement threshold.

“Nor the higher energy needs of those with certain disabilities and illnesses.”

Following the letter to the Chancellor, Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett was quick to share his appreciation for Rebecca Long-Bailey MP on X.

Thank you @RLong_Bailey for raising this vital issue on behalf of your constituents here in Salford

The government urgently needs to rethink the changes to the Winter Fuel payment, to ensure our vulnerable residents continue to receive the support they sorely need. https://t.co/hic1eHt50Z

— SalfordMayor (@salford_mayor) September 30, 2024

He shared: “Thank you Rebecca Long-Bailey MP for raising this vital issue on behalf of your constituents here in Salford.

“The government urgently needs to rethink the changes to the Winter Fuel payment, to ensure our vulnerable residents continue to receive the support they sorely need.”

Rebecca Long-Bailey abstained from voting on the Winter Fuel Payment, saying that she could not ‘in all conscience’ vote to support the proposals.

Labour won the vote by 348 to 228, with a majority of 120.

Following the decision the Salford MP said: “I am gravely concerned about introducing means-testing of the Winter Fuel Payment so quickly, at a time when energy bills are due to increase significantly.”

The impact of the winter fuel cut will be shared in the budget later this year on October 30 2024.