Sir Ed Davey said the Liberal Democrats would try to block the Government’s plan to end the winter fuel allowance for all pensioners when MPs return from the summer recess next week.
Warning that the new Labour Government was making its “first big mistake”, the Lib Dem leader on Thursday signalled action by his party in the fortnight between Parliament resuming and another break for the annual conference season.
Rishi Sunak has also backed proposals pushed by Conservative MPs for a Commons vote on the winter fuel payment. The payments of up to £300 were previously paid to all pensioners, regardless of their income or benefits.
But Chancellor Rachel Reeves says a £22 billion “black hole” inherited from the Tories means it has to be limited in future to people on income-related benefits or tax credits. The change is due to take effect on September 16.
“It’s not a decision I wanted to make,” Ms Reeves said on Wednesday.
“It was a decision that I had to make in incredibly challenging circumstances to put our public finances on a firm footing.”
But Sir Ed said Labour could get the “very wealthiest in our country to pay more” to fund investment in public services, warning that pensioners face a £670 hit this winter owing also in part to a rise in the energy price cap.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, he expressed hope that Tory MPs would also back the Lib Dem motion for a Commons vote. “I think there’ll be some Labour MPs and MPs probably across all parties. I think people are genuinely worried.”
Sir Ed added: “Liberal Democrats said, in the election, we’d fight for a fair deal for people, for our communities and I think the least the Parliament needs to do is have a debate, have a vote and hopefully reject this proposal.”
The charity Age UK said it “strongly” opposed means-testing the payment.
That will mean “as many as two million pensioners who badly need the money to stay warm this winter will not receive it and will be in serious trouble as a result”.
But at a roundtable with energy industry bosses on Wednesday, Labour’s energy consumers minister Miatta Fahnbulleh urged their support for a campaign to alert customers to financial help available.
She said: “Despite the tough inheritance, we will do everything in our power to support vulnerable households with their energy bills this winter.
“And we are committed to putting in place winter support this October. We will be hashing out the details over the next month so that families that need it are protected in the colder months.”
