How Bridlington and the Wolds MP Charlie Dewhirst voted in Parliament winter fuel debate
Charlie Dewhirst, MP for Bridlington and The Wolds, has voted against Labour’s plan to cut winter fuel payments for more than 23,400 pensioners in the area.
On September 10, 347 Labour MPs voted to scrap the Winter Fuel Payment scheme in the House of Commons, despite warnings that vulnerable pensioners would be forced to choose between heating and eating this winter.
The vote means that 23,400 pensioners in Bridlington and The Wolds will lose up to £300 in financial support.
Conservative MP Mr Dewhirst has been vocal in his opposition to the cuts and met representatives from Age UK as a matter of urgency after Labour first proposed the plans.
He highlighted that this change will affect 87% of those aged 66 and over in the area, and nationally Age UK estimates that two million pensioners will now struggle to pay their energy bills.
He is also concerned for the estimated 2,100 pensioners in Bridlington and The Wolds who are eligible for Pension Credit but do not currently claim it.
These individuals, along with many others living on the margins of eligibility, will now miss out on Winter Fuel Payments, exacerbating the risk of fuel poverty in the area.
Mr Dewhirst said: “This is a cruel policy decision that will significantly harm older people in our community.
"During the election, Labour said winter fuel payments would continue if they won power and that there were no plans to change eligibility for these benefits – but this was clearly untrue.
“The last Government successfully delivered around 11.9 million Winter Fuel Payments and Pensioner Cost of Living Payments to older people across Britain in December 2023, making sure pensioners could heat their homes and live with dignity.
“The current cuts will strip that security away and leave many in our area without the support they desperately need, but I will continue to stand up for older local people.”
Labour’s plan to introduce means-testing for the Winter Fuel Payment has been criticised for its rapid implementation and lack of compensatory measures for those most at risk.
Mr Dewhirst warned that the changes would disproportionately affect pensioners living in energy-inefficient homes or those with higher energy costs due to health conditions, increasing the pressure on vulnerable people and putting further strain on the NHS.
Charlie has urged the Government to halt the changes and protect the Triple Lock, which he sees as the best way to support all pensioners.
He has also launched a petition on his website at: charliedewhirst.uk/winterfuel to show residents’ strength of feeling.
For more information, assistance with applying for pension credit or other support, or help with any other matter, residents are encouraged to contact Charlie Dewhirst MP’s office directly by email to: [email protected]