Last week, I spoke with Tess, a 70-year-old pensioner whose words still ring in my ears: “I will suffer.” As winter approaches, her fear isn’t just her own—it's a reality faced by thousands of elderly people across Milton Keynes and the UK. The unimaginable choice between heating or eating is now becoming far too common, and it’s something we cannot accept as a society.
The Prime Minister, when in opposition, was clear in his stance on Winter Fuel Payments—criticising any suggestion of means-testing them. Yet here we are, with Labour flip-flopping on this promise, and doing so at the expense of our most vulnerable citizens. To add insult to injury, our three local MPs voted to scrap the universal Winter Fuel Payment, knowing full well how this will devastate their own constituents.
As a councillor, I meet residents from all walks of life, many doing their best to manage under increasingly difficult circumstances. But I never imagined we’d reach a point where our elderly, who’ve contributed so much to society, are left in such vulnerable positions. People like Tess, who have raised families, built careers, and given back to their communities, are now being left to suffer. As Tess put it, “Labour hit us first.”
The Labour Government’s decision to restrict Winter Fuel Payments only to pensioners on Pension Credit is a devastating blow. What was once a universal benefit, designed to help all pensioners cope with rising energy costs, has been cruelly limited, leaving millions of elderly people out in the cold—literally. For those who fall just above the Pension Credit threshold, this feels like an unjust punishment. It’s a reminder of Labour’s foul play, where those who’ve worked hard their entire lives are now being abandoned just as energy prices are set to soar again.
What angers me most is the grotesque contrast between these cuts and the lavish spending happening at the top of Labour's hierarchy. While pensioners like Tess are left wondering how they’ll survive the winter, Labour figures are using donations for parties and extravagant outfits. It’s not just heartbreaking—it’s utterly shameful.
Labour’s Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, claims these "tough decisions" are necessary to make up for Conservative spending. But that excuse doesn’t wash. Labour cannot pull the wool over the public’s eyes on this. The Conservative government left Labour with the fastest-growing economy in the G7, and unemployment lower than in 2010. But in just a few months, Labour has managed to flatline the economy, with reckless decisions like handing out £10 billion in inflation-busting pay rises to public sector workers, including train drivers.
The so-called savings from scrapping universal Winter Fuel Payments are a farce. Labour says they’ll save £1.4 billion—but if more pensioners claim Pension Credit and Housing Benefit, the actual cost could rise to £3.8 billion. So where are the savings? Labour is robbing our most vulnerable citizens to placate their union backers and doing so as winter looms.
This isn’t just a political issue—this is about life and death. Cold homes lead to serious health problems, especially for the elderly. Conditions like hypothermia, respiratory infections, and cardiovascular diseases will inevitably rise. These will strain an already overstretched NHS, as hospital admissions increase due to cold-related illnesses.
But behind these numbers are real people—people like Tess—who’ve spent their lives contributing to society and are now facing hardships they never imagined. This is a public health issue, yes, but more importantly, it’s about basic human decency.
The current Labour government must step up and take responsibility. We cannot let short-term political manoeuvring cost lives. While I’ve always been proud to represent Milton Keynes, it is disheartening to watch decisions made by Labour hurt those who need help the most. It seems this government has lost its moral compass, willing to rob our most vulnerable citizens, at a difficult time with winter coming, just to placate their union backers.
We owe it to our elderly residents to fight for them. They are the backbone of our city, and it’s our moral duty to ensure they’re not left behind. This isn’t about party politics—it’s about doing what’s right. As a community and a council, we must come together to demand that no pensioner in the UK is forced to choose between heating and eating.
Labour’s piecemeal changes to the welfare system are not only failing to deliver meaningful savings, but they’re doing so at the expense of those who can least afford it. Here in Milton Keynes alone, nearly 33,000 residents will miss out on this vital support just as the winter cold sets in. This is Labour’s legacy so far—broken promises and abandoned pensioners.
It’s time we demand better. Our elderly deserve more than to suffer through the winter while Labour’s elites party at their expense.
Context:
The Winter Fuel Payment is paid to pensioners in England and Wales at a flat rate of £200, or £300 for households with someone aged over 80. From this winter, it will be restricted to those in receipt of certain benefits, notably Pension Credit, which means that about 10 million people will lose out. This is expected to save around £1.5 billion a year.
