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All six Tory leadership candidates unite behind Express Winter Fuel campaign

2024-08-18 00:00:00.0 每日快报-政治原网页

Rachel Reeves announces cuts to winter fuel payment

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READ MORE: Fury at Reeves as pensioners share reality of scrapping winter fuel payments

All six candidates have now backed the Express' Winter Fuel campaign (Image: Getty)

Shadow security minister Tom Tugendhat accused both Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves of not being “straight with the British People”.

He blasted: “They promised change but all they’re offering is downgrades”.

Mr Tugendhat praised the Express for holding the Government’s "feet to the fire, and this campaign is an important part of doing so”.

Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly accused Ms Reeves of not having a “democratic mandate” for the policy.

“Integrity demands that to implement a change like this, that will affect so many people, requires a democratic mandate.”

Shadow Housing and Local Government Secretary Kemi Badenoch joined the unified chorus, saying that Daily Express readers “can see Labour have been dishonest with the British public”.

Robert Jenrick accused Labour of displaying “breathtaking hypocrisy” compared to their Tory attacks over rumoured Winter Fuel Payment cuts when in opposition, branding Ms Reeves’ decision as “shameful”.

On Saturday, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride promised that the Conservatives “will not sit idly by” while Labour inflicts misery on millions, swearing to continue his party’s “proud history” of standing up for pensioners.

Following the launch of the Express’ new crusade last week, Dame Priti Patel said she is also backing the campaign “to urge the Chancellor to reverse this shameless and cruel decision”.

Rachel Reeves is under mounting pressure as dozens of MPs from all parties back the Express crusade (Image: Getty)

Responding to the outbreak of candidate unity, interim party chairman Richard Fuller, and opposition Chief Whip Stuart Andrews, issued a rare statement praising the consensus.

The pair said: “We welcome that all six Conservative Party leadership candidates have come together to unite against the government and show their support for pensioners across the country”.

“In only a few short weeks Labour have shown their true colours with plans to make pensioners and hardworking people pay the price to appease their union paymasters. The Conservative Party will always stand up for the British people, ensuring support for people at every stage of their life.”

The strength of purpose from the Tory six comes ahead of a week likely to confirm the raising of the energy cap, meaning higher bills this Christmas.

Today, Chancellor Rachel Reeves was also warned that any money she saves by scrapping Winter Fuel Allowance could be wiped out by an unintended spike in pensioners applying for benefits.

The Chancellor has said that the move could pocket the Treasury around ￡1.4 billion a year, as she seeks to close a supposed ‘black hole’ of ￡22 billion left to her by the Conservatives.

However new analysis suggests the policy could lead to an unintended benefit bill of ￡3.8 billion, and end up costing the exchequer more money than it saves.

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Tory chairman Richard Fuller praised the candidates' unity (Image: Conservative Party)

Data analysts Policy in Practice said that around ￡23 billion worth of benefits go unclaimed each year, with welfare measures for pensioners making up around ￡6.1 billion of that sum.

Included in the enormous figure are over 430,000 people on pension credit who do not claim housing benefit despite being eligible - worth around ￡1.8 billion alone.

While some welfare measures are automatically handed to those in reciept of pension credit, such as the warm homes discount and the new winter fuel payment, others must be applied for separately.

Policy in Practice suggests this so-called “passport support” could sum up to ￡3.8 billion a year.

Around 850,000 eligible pensioners do not claim pension credit, the new eligibility criteria for receiving Winter Fuel Allowance, despite being entitled to it.

Former pensions minister Sir Steve Webb has already warned that a surge in applications for pension credit could end up wiping out nearly half of Ms Reeves’ hope savings from the policy.

According to the End Fuel Poverty Coalition, an estimated 10 million pensioners are set to see their bills rise by around 15% this winter.

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Campaign member Jonathan Bean warned: “Making heating even more unaffordable for those trying to survive on basic pensions is a cruel and reckless move that will cause widespread suffering, and increased NHS admissions this winter”.

The Express has continued to hear from readers worried about the impact that Ms Reeves’ decision will have on them and their family this year.

Julie Isaacs in West Sussex expressed regret at “foolishly” giving Labour her vote at the election, describing the decision as “something I shall regret for the rest of my lift”.

Ms Isaacs said she now looks forward to voting for the Conservatives at the next election, adding how she regrets playing a part in Mr Sunak’s defeat after he helped the elderly with their energy costs during Covid.

She warned: “Hopefully Labour will make the mistake of thinking pensioners won’t have long memories because of their age , but pensioners do, and will remember how the very first thing a labour government did was to cruelly rob them of a chance to stay warm during the cold weather”.

We are asking readers to tell us why they need the Winter Fuel Payment by emailing news.desk@express.co.uk or filling out our campaign coupon.

A Government spokesperson said: "We are committed to pensioners: protecting the triple lock, keeping energy bills low through our Warm Homes Plan, and cutting NHS waiting lists – bringing real stability to people’s lives."

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