Labour's own research suggested that up to 4,000 elderly people could die if the winter fuel allowance is ended.

 

Baroness Ros Altmann

Baroness Altmann, the former pensions minister, has said that the decision to cut pensioners winter fuel allowances, is one of the worst political decisions that she's ever seen. The Crossbench peer, is to table a Parliamentary motion, to kill off the Labour government's plan to target the allowance only on people who claim Pension Credit.

In 2017, Labour's own research, suggested that up to 4,000 elderly people could die if the winter fuel allowance was cut. Despite these warnings, the Labour government did not carry out any impact assessment that this measure might have on the elderly, before making the announcement that they were to means-test the winter fuel allowance.

Pensioners are now facing an increase in energy prices of 10% between October and December, when they will be losing their winter fuel and cost of living payments. The prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer-oid, recently said that many pensioners don't need the winter fuel allowance.

It has been estimated that around 10m UK pensioners will lose the winter fuel allowance because of means-testing. The cut is being imposed when the UK economy had the fastest-growing economy in the G7 in the first half of this year. Despite the good economic news, Starmer’s newly elected Labour government have struck a sombre tone on the economy, warning of a £22bn ‘black hole’ in public finances, and a tough and painful budget in October.