Steff Aquarone to vote against Winter Fuel Allowance cut

Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk, Steff Aquarone has announced he will be voting against the Government’s planned cut to the Winter Fuel Allowance.

It comes as a new poll commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has revealed the staggering effects of the cut to the winter fuel allowance this winter. The poll of pensioners showed that three in four (75%) expect to be affected by the Government’s cut to winter fuel allowance payments. 

Staggeringly, over half (55%) of UK pensioners polled said they would likely be heating their homes less this winter, while 4 in 10 will look to cut back on other ‘essentials’. 1 in 5 (19%) pensioners are planning to eat less this winter due to the cut. 

Locally, the analysis shows an estimated 25,796 pensioners in North Norfolk are at risk of losing the £300 payment, which helps with heating bills in the cold winter months.

Research from the charity Age UK shows the proposed cut to Winter Fuel Payments will mean two million people will find paying their energy bills a real stretch and will be seriously hit by this cut.

Liberal Democrats initially called for a vote by tabling a motion and will now take the opportunity to oppose the government.

Commenting, Steff Aquarone, Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk said: 

“I will not stand by and allow millions of pensioners to endure yet another winter in a cost of living crisis.

“Since these plans were announced I’ve received hundreds of emails from local people expressing their dismay at this decision. As I promised I would in my campaign, I’ll be standing up for them in Parliament and voting in their interests.

“North Norfolk has more than 28,000 pensioners living here, so this move will be hugely damaging for our area. I am urging the Government to look again at these misguided proposals.

“I and my Liberal Democrat colleagues will be voting against the government’s cruel and misguided cut to winter fuel payments for pensioners.

“While we understand the dire state the Conservatives left the public finances in, now is not the time to be cutting support to some of the most vulnerable people in our society.”