Ahead of the vote on the winter fuel allowance, the Leader of the Opposition, Cllr George Perfect, has written to the three Medway Members of Parliament this morning, as follows:
Lauren Edwards MP, Naushabah Khan MP, and Tristan Osborne MP
Member of Parliament for Rochester and Strood, Gillingham and Rainham and Chatham and Aylesford
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA
Tuesday 10th September 2024
Dear Lauren, Naushabah and Tristan,
I am writing to express our deep concern about your government’s proposal to scrap the £300 Winter Fuel Allowance for low-income pensioners, some of whom earn as little as £13,000 per year. If implemented, this decision will have a devastating impact on older people across our towns, especially at a time when the cost of heating a home during winter is already very high.
The Winter Fuel Allowance has been a vital lifeline for many elderly residents, helping them stay warm during the coldest months of the year. Removing this support would place a significant financial burden on pensioners who are already struggling to make ends meet.
In Medway, many elderly residents rely on the Winter Fuel Allowance. The government’s proposal to scrap it means that some of the most vulnerable members of our community will be forced to choose between heating their homes or putting food on the table. This is especially hard to accept when the Labour government has chosen to award large pay rises to certain well-paid, unionised workers, such as train drivers—who already earn £65,000 per year—with a near £10,000 increase.
As the Members of Parliament for Medway, the Medway Conservative Group urge you to consider the severe impact this proposal will have on your constituents, who are counting on you to stand up for them. We therefore ask you to oppose the scrapping of the Winter Fuel Allowance when it comes before Parliament.
I look forward to your response and hope that you will take decisive action to safeguard the wellbeing of pensioners in your constituencies. As there is significant public interest in this matter, I will be making this letter public.
With every good wish,
Councillor George Perfect
Leader of the Medway Conservative Group and Leader of the Opposition of Medway Council
