SENIOR Labour figures have raised concerns about plans to axe the Winter Fuel Payment.
The Guardian reports that frontbenchers have said the UK Government will need to announce extra support in the Budget or earlier to soften the blow for those affected.
It comes as Stephen Flynn (below) called on Keir Starmer to U-turn on the plans to cut the payment for all pensioners in England and Wales except those on lower incomes who received pension credit.
Following the initial decision, the Scottish Government said the equivalent payment in Scotland will also be restricted to “older people who receive relevant eligible benefits,” with ministers saying they had “no choice” due to the reduction in funding.
The Guardian reports that a number of Cabinet sources said they were concerned that the move would be unsustainable.
One commented: “It hasn’t even been thought through properly. We’re going to end up with more old people in hospital or care as a result, with all the costs involved in that.”
Reeves is set to address Labour MPs at the parliamentary Labour Party meeting on Monday night ahead of a vote on the policy on Tuesday.
Another Cabinet minister added: “I don’t think people have fully grasped how difficult the in-year deficit is for the government…
“This isn’t an easy decision for the Chancellor (below) to make but people have got to get behind her so she makes the tough decisions now.”
However, backbench MPs have reportedly been left concerned by the volume of complaints they have received from constituents with one saying that while “it’s going to save us £1.5 billion, it won’t be worth the political hit we’ll take this winter”.
Another MP said they didn’t think there would be a single “Labour MP who isn’t worried” with a third commenting that they had received around 200 emails on the issue, including some saying: “I’ve just voted Labour for the first time but never again.”
Charities have also been among those to call for the cut to be reversed, with Age UK emailing Labour MPs this week about the number of people who will be affected.
Another MP told the newspaper: “It’s a cut people notice straight away, directly out of their pocket, it’s the most damaging kind.”
Flynn meanwhile has said that around 860,000 Scottish pensioners will “pay the price for the Labour Government’s draconian cuts”.
