The Labour Party has come under fire from trade union bosses with conference leaders accused of dodging a debate on the removal of the Winter Fuel Payment.
A motion was previously put forward by trade unions Unite and the CWU (Communication Workers Union), for the policy to restrict the payment to those on means-tested benefits, to be scrapped.
But the vote on the motion has been pushed back until Wednesday, when there are normally fewer people around to cast their vote.
Chair of Unite’s Executive Committee, Andy Green, took to the podium to hit out at the decision from conference leaders this morning. He said: “This is simply an attempt to take out the debate on the winter fuel allowance.
“Today is economy day at conference, and we have a Chancellor speaking and a composited motion on the growth mission, which is scheduled for this morning.
“So it is more a surprise, and in fact an outrage to us, that the composited motion from Unite and the CWU on an economy for the future, is not listed on the agenda for today.
“It is disrespectful to our members and every single delegate here, and conference itself, who voted for the priorities ballot.
“We’re asking for the CAC [Conference Arrangements Committee] to go away and urgently resolve this issue this morning colleagues. Please support.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves defended the decision to move the motion when speaking to LBC.
She said: “I don’t know the situation about when votes take place, but if delegates want to vote on this, they will get a vote on this.
“I don’t know the timing of the vote, but we’ve already had a vote in Parliament where it was overwhelmingly passed.
“This isn’t the decision that I wanted to make. It wasn’t a decision that I expected to make, but given the state of the public finances that I inherited I think it was right to restrict the Winter Fuel Payment to the poorest pensioners, and to make sure that all of the pensioners entitled to it are getting it.”
The Winter Fuel Payment will be worth £200 or £300 this year depending on your circumstances.
People on these benefits born before September 23, 1958, may be eligible for the payment:
- Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income Support
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit.
