Montgomeryshire MS, Russell George votes to pressure the UK Government to reverse their decision to end the universal Winter Fuel Payment in the Senedd this week
The UK Labour Government’s decision to end universal winter fuel payments will have a devastating impact on pensioners up and down Wales. It is estimated that over 20,000 pensioners in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr alone, will now not be receiving up to £300 this winter.
In the Senedd this week (18/07/24), the Welsh Conservatives submitted a motion calling on the UK Government to reverse its decision to end the universal winter fuel payment. Following the debate, a vote followed, in which Labour MSs voted against the Welsh Conservatives motion.
Commenting after the debate, Montgomeryshire MS, Mr George said:
“The winter fuel payment, until now, has been paid to all pensioners to help with energy bills. The payment was based on the principle that older people would be left exposed and at increased risk if they could not pay for adequate heating.
“This debate was a chance for the Welsh Labour Government to show that they have the courage to put their constituents’ interests before their party interests. Sadly, they voted down the Welsh Conservative Motion.
‘’I was disappointed that our new Labour MP voted to cut winter fuel payments to Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr residents. In the Senedd this week, his Welsh Labour colleagues also voted down our motion calling to overturn the decision.
‘’I am disappointed that Labour members seem to believe that the 20,000 pensioners in Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr that will lose their winter fuel payments do not need this support. This is simply not true.
‘’This is about priorities and choices. Cash can be found to give train drivers an above inflationary pay rise of 14% and spend £120 million on expanding the Senedd.’’