The leader of the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Liberal Democrats, Councillor Nicola Aisthorpe, has called on the Labour Government to U-turn on their plans to scrap Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners.
New data shows that 26,119 pensioners across North East Lincolnshire are at risk of losing out on the Winter Fuel Payments worth up to £300 to help with heating costs during the colder months.
Across the country, 10 million pensioners are set to lose their winter fuel payment under the government’s plans, including two million that the charity AGE UK has said will struggle to afford their energy bills as a result. This is despite the average energy bill being set to rise by £149 a year from October.
Today (Tuesday 10th September), MPs will vote on the controversial plan to cut the winter fuel allowance. The Liberal Democrats, with the backing of all 72 of their MPs, have tabled a motion in Parliament to block the government's proposals and restore the payments.
If the Labour Government's plans go through today, only 4,564 pensioners in North East Lincolnshire will qualify for the payments when the changes take effect on 16th September – a massive drop from the 30,683 residents who benefited under the old scheme, say the Grimsby and Cleethorpes Liberal Democrats.
The Grimsby and Cleethorpes Liberal Democrats are urging the government to reconsider and protect vulnerable pensioners from being forced to choose between eating and heating this winter.
Liberal Democrat Leader, Cllr Nicola Aisthorpe said, “Over the past few weeks, my colleagues and I have heard from countless pensioners deeply worried about whether they’ll be able to heat their homes this winter.
“Cutting support from many of the poorest pensioners in North East Lincolnshire without any other measures to mitigate the impact of the on-going cost of living crisis or energy bills that are set to rise again, is simply wrong. It could force vulnerable elderly people to choose between eating and heating this winter.
“We all appreciate the government is facing tough choices given the appalling mess left by the Conservatives, but a rethink is urgently needed. Our community’s vulnerable pensioners must continue to receive the support they need”.
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