Senedd votes down winter fuel motion

Senedd members narrowly rejected Conservative calls to urge the UK Government to reverse its decision to end universal winter fuel payments.

Labour voted down the motion while Plaid Cymru joined the Conservatives in backing it, with the final tally 23 in favour and 24 against.

Leading the debate, Joel James warned that about 400,000 households in Wales will lose up to £300 per person after the UK Government’s decision.

He said the cuts blindsided millions of pensioners, who have now been put into a state of fear over the affordability of bills which are predicted to jump by 10% in October.

The Tory shadow social justice secretary rejected “disingenuous, manufactured” claims of a £22bn black hole in UK public finances, saying a recent audit identified no such shortfall.

‘Callous’

He described the reforms as “exceptionally shortsighted and callous”, warning it risks pushing thousands of pensioners into fuel poverty.

Mr James pointed out that almost 900,000 people are entitled to pension credit – one of the eligibility criteria for winter fuel payments – but do not claim the benefit.

He said: “What is most alarming … the new Labour [UK] Government has commissioned no impact assessment whatsoever on the impact of this cut.

“And the Labour Party’s own research has estimated that by scrapping universal winter fuel payments, excess deaths will increase by almost 4,000 people.”

Mr James, who represents South Wales Central, accused Welsh Labour MPs of showing “contempt and cowardice” by failing to vote against scrapping the cut.

'Disappointed'

Commenting after the debate, Montgomeryshire MS, Mr George said:

"The winter fuel payment, until now, has been paid to all pensioners to help with energy bills. The payment was based on the principle that older people would be left exposed and at increased risk if they could not pay for adequate heating."

"This debate was a chance for the Welsh Labour Government to show that they have the courage to put their constituents’ interests before their party interests. Sadly, they didn’t support the Welsh Conservative Motion."

"I was disappointed that our new Labour MP voted to cut winter fuel payments to Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr residents. In the Senedd this week, his Welsh Labour colleagues also failed to vote for our motion calling to overturn the decision."

"I am disappointed that Labour members seem to believe that the 20,000 pensioners in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr that will lose their winter fuel payments do not need this support. This is simply not true."

"This is about priorities and choices. Cash can be found to give train drivers an above inflationary pay rise of 14% and spend £120 million on expanding the Senedd."

‘Spineless’

Sioned Williams, who represents South Wales West, said Plaid Cymru shares the Conservatives’ concerns and the party would back the motion.

But the shadow social justice secretary described the cut as a continuation of the austerity agenda of the previous UK Government.

She said: “That is a crucial point in our view because we are a party that completely rejects the ideology and policies of austerity.”

Ms Williams described austerity as an entirely ineffective and unfair policy which transfers money from the poorest to the richest in society,

She told the Senedd the Conservative UK Government forced pensioners to make impossible decisions between eating and heating,

Ms Williams said it was hugely concerning to see “spineless” Welsh Labour MPs allowing the cut to pass through the UK Parliament.

‘Bleak’

Responding to the debate on September 18, Jane Hutt reiterated that difficult decisions are being taken due to a £22bn “black hole” in the public purse and a “bleak” outlook.

Wales’ social justice secretary said the former chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, failed to account for public sector rises recommended by independent pay review bodies.

Ms Hutt highlighted support available via the discretionary assistance fund but she warned that too few people are taking up the Welsh Government  grants.

She said: “We have to support those people who have been affected by 14 years of austerity and Tory economic mismanagement.

“We have a duty to turn this around at all levels of government and reach out to those most affected by the shameful legacy of the £22bn black hole.”