Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart has criticised the Prime Minister’s recent decision to soften plans for winter fuel payment cuts, calling the move “too little, too late” for the millions of pensioners affected.
The government had originally proposed restricting the £200–£300 winter fuel allowance to only the lowest-income pensioners, a policy that would have excluded thousands of retirees who do not receive benefits but still face rising energy costs. During Prime Minister’s Questions on 21 May, Keir Starmer signalled that revisions to the plan may be included in the upcoming Budget.
While welcoming signs of movement, Graham questioned both the timing and intent of the announcement. “It’s a clear U-turn, but it’s also a desperate attempt to recover from a disastrous decision that should never have been made in the first place,” he said.
I will keep campaigning until every one of my constituents gets the support they need and deserve
Earlier this year, Graham launched a petition in Beverley and across East Yorkshire opposing the cuts. The petition received 1,181 signatures and was formally presented to the Prime Minister in November, alongside fellow East Riding MPs Charlie Dewhirst and Sir David Davis.
“The government’s plan was always unfair,” Graham said. “People who’ve worked hard and saved a little were being punished simply because they didn’t qualify for benefits. That’s not how a decent country treats its pensioners.”
Despite the policy rethink, Graham continues to call for a full reinstatement of the universal winter fuel payment, warning that the partial reversal will still leave many pensioners in cold homes this winter.
“I will keep campaigning until every one of my constituents gets the support they need and deserve,” he added.
Title photo: grahamstuart.com