News

Labour councillors reject Conservative winter fuel cut protest

Anna Mahtani reports on the response of local politicians and charities to the cut in the winter fuel allowance

Hendon Town Hall
Hendon Town Hall

Ahead of this week’s budget statement, a recent council meeting saw Barnet councillors overwhelmingly reject an opposition motion opposing the government’s cut to the winter fuel allowance for pensioners. 

While the full council meeting on October 15th saw mayor Tony Vourou lead applause for the borough’s Silver Sunday event celebrating positive ageing, moments later, his colleagues voted against the motion proposed by Conservative councillor Richard Cornelius to oppose the cuts. 

Speaking to Barnet Post following the meeting, Conservative group deputy leader Lucy Wakeley explained why the group had raised the issue: “The majority of the people that contribute to our community locally are pensioners. The average age for a councillor is 60. The average age for a trustee is 65.” She added:“These are the people that are contributing, and now they’re being left out in the cold, literally.”

Barnet has the second largest over 65 population of any London borough. Pension credit represents a value of up to £10,000 per person annually, but a lack of public awareness has led to low take up. 

During the meeting, Labour councillors urged concerned residents to check whether they can place a pension credit claim, with the DWP estimating that up to 4,689 eligible households are not yet claiming the benefit. 

Cllr Wakeley praised the efforts of local charities to help local people to claim the benefits they are entitled to but insisted on the necessity of political responsibility: “We should be doing everything to fight the winter fuel payment cut.” 

She added: “Charities right now in Barnet are trying to get together to support residents. But {there’s] just not enough time.”

While the Labour council administration in Barnet has no direct ability to affect government policy on benefits, Chipping Barnet’s Labour MP Dan Tomlinson responded to the situation in a comment piece for Barnet Post last month.

In the piece, he described the decision to cut the winter fuel allowance as “painful” and added: “But be in no doubt – we remain steadfast in our commitment to pensioners. The new state pension increased by £900 in April and will rise by £460 next April. The triple lock is safe with Labour.” 

UPDATE: the article was updated at 23.10 on October 28th to remove comments from representatives of local charities who were not comfortable being quote in an article include political debate on this issue.


No news is bad news 

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts. 

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less. 

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation. 

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit 

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else. £84 annual supporters get a print copy by post and a digital copy of each month's before anyone else.

Donate now with Pay Pal

More information on supporting us monthly 

More Information about donations