Blackburn with Darwen Council Tories winter fuel cash plea

The Tories have labelled the money-saving plans as 'ill-conceived', after Chancellor Rachel Reeves made the controversial decision to scrap the winter fuel payments for most pensioners.

The current universal payment to all pensioners is being cut to just those on pension credit, meaning millions will lose the cash boost to cover their heating bills they get on top of their state pension.

Analysis revealed in August by the Lancashire Telegraph showed 80,000 pensioners in East Lancashire were set to lose the free cash handout. In Blackburn with Darwen, more than 80 per cent of pensioners are no longer eligible.

The Tories have tabled a motion for debate on the issue when it meets on Thursday night.

It is proposed by Darwen South ward's Cllr Kevin Connor and seconded by group leader and Blackburn South and Lower Darwen ward's Cllr John Slater.

Cllr Kevin Connor is calling for the winter fuel cut to be cancelled The motion says: "This council considers the Chancellor’s recent decision to end the Winter Fuel payment with no compensatory measures to protect needy pensioners, and to restrict it to only those in receipt of Pension Credits and other benefits, to be ill conceived and contrary to the universality of the payment as introduced by Gordon Brown in 1997.

"It is widely believed by organisations such as Age Concern, trade unions and councils that as many as 1.6 million pensioners could be adversely affected by this decision."

The motion says those "particularly at risk" are:

• Those with high energy needs because of disability or illness,
• Those who live in energy-inefficient homes which are expensive to heat,
• Those who just miss out on Pension Credit,
• Those who currently do not claim Pension Credit but are eligible.

The motion adds: "The timing of this cut is appalling; announced shortly before the winter months and after Ofgem raised the energy price cap by 10 per cent meaning a typical household bill will rise from October 1 by £149 per annum.

"It is expected that the number of people eligible for the winter payment will fall by 10 million (from 11.1 million to only 1.2 million).

"It also means that if pensioners choose to eat rather than heat they will not avoid receiving a bill for the iniquitous standing charge.

"Government is about choice – this choice is without merit and makes no political or financial sense.

"This council resolves to request the chief executive and the leader of the council to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on behalf of the 21,000 pensioners who reside in Blackburn with Darwen, calling for the policy on linking Winter Fuel Payments to Pension Credit receipt to be immediately reversed and seek alternative options, where economies can be made without incurring unnecessary financial hardship on those least able to afford them."

Data from the Office for National Statistics shows more than a quarter (27 per cent) of pensioners live in a household with a wealth of £1 million or more.

Blackburn with Darwen Council leader Cllr Phil Riley said: "We cannot agree with this motion because it suggests the Conservatives want to return the payment to everybody who has been previously eligible, but we don't believe it should be paid to millionaires.

"We shall be amending the motion at the meeting."