Social Security

The debate began with the shadow Secretary of State, Mel Stride, moving a motion to annul the Government's regulations to means-test the winter fuel payment. Stride argued that the Labour party had given "cast-iron assurances" during the election that they had "no plans" to change the winter fuel payment, and accused them of breaking their promises and betraying pensioners. He warned that nine out of ten pensioners would lose the payment of up to £300, including two-thirds of pensioners living below the poverty line, and criticized the lack of impact assessments or scrutiny of the measures. In response, the Government's Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, defended the decision as a necessary step to fix the "£22 billion hole" in the public finances left by the previous government. She argued that when money is tight, the priority must be to target resources at those most in need, and outlined plans to increase the uptake of pension credit to support the poorest pensioners. Kendall also highlighted the Government's commitment to the pension triple lock, which will see state pensions rise significantly. The debate that followed saw a range of views expressed. Some Labour members, such as Dame Meg Hillier and Debbie Abrahams, acknowledged the difficult financial situation but argued that the measures would cause hardship for many pensioners, particularly those just above the pension credit threshold. Conservative members, including Esther McVey and Saqib Bhatti, accused the Government of betraying pensioners and using them as "political weapons". There were also calls for a more comprehensive approach to tackling pensioner poverty, including improving home insulation and energy costs. The debate highlighted the complex trade-offs the Government faces in balancing fiscal responsibility with supporting the most vulnerable. While the Government defended the decision as a necessary evil, the opposition argued it was a political choice that would have severe consequences for many pensioners. Ultimately, the Government's regulations were approved by 348 votes to 228.