Since last writing for the Ongar News, the Labour Government has made a host of announcements, many of which will impact people here in Ongar. The most significant of these has been to announce that it will take away winter fuel payments to everyone not on pension credit.
Whilst I am in favour of not giving multi-millionaires benefits, taking payments away from millions of older people, many of who have little more than £11,500 a year, seems very unfair. Around 10 million senior citizens will be up to £300 worse off at a time when energy bills are set to rise again over the winter. The plan was not mentioned in Labour’s manifesto and I consider this to be at best disingenuous and at worst deeply dishonest.
Having received a large amount of correspondence from local people on this subject, I voted for the Conservative motion to scrap Labour’s plan to remove the Winter Fuel Payment from millions of pensioners (it was defeated by 348 to 228 votes).
I know many people in Ongar will be directly affected by this terrible decision by Labour and can only urge all pensioners in Ongar to check their eligibility for Pension Credit, which is a benefit which allows you to access the Winter Fuel Payment. You can find out how to claim here: https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit.
That the Government has done this whilst offering above inflation pay rises to some unionised workers who are earning over £60,000 a year only serves to underline how unfair this decision is. I will continue to hold the new government to account on your behalf.
