Updated Sun 8 September 2024
The health secretary has said he is "not remotely happy" about having to vote to cut the winter fuel allowance for some pensioners.
Wes Streeting said he has apologised to his elderly constituents who it will affect, but said cutting the payment from those not on pension credit is essential to balance public finances.
He told Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: "I think it is a tough choice, and we've had plenty of political criticism for it, I think, which demonstrates the political pain of it.
"I'm not remotely happy about it, and I'm not remotely happy about having to say to some of my constituents, 'I'm sorry that I'm going into work this week to vote for something that will take money away from you'."
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MPs will vote on Tuesday on whether to cut the winter fuel payment after the government announced its intention at the end of July.
Mr Streeting echoed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's sentiment that it was a "tough choice" but is needed to get the economy back on a stable footing.
The health secretary added: "I think there are lots of people out there, actually, particularly pensioners, who've seen governments come and go, and have seen what happens when politicians duck the difficult decisions, who, even if they don't agree with this choice, I hope will take some reassurance that this isn't a government that ducks difficult decisions or pretends you can spend money you don't have, or pretends that the stability of the public finances is not an essential ingredient for the future growth, prosperity and success of our country."
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Labour MPs will be told they must vote with the government on Tuesday to cut the payment, however several, particularly on the left of the party, have voiced their opposition to the cut.
It is understood they may abstain instead of voting against the government after Sir Keir suspended seven MPs from Labour when they voted against the government shortly after winning the election.
Sir Keir would not confirm or deny if he would do the same this time.
"That will be a matter for the chief whip," he told the BBC.
"We're going into a vote. I'm glad we're having a vote, because I think it's very important for parliament to speak on this.
"But every Labour MP was elected in on the same mandate as I was, which was to deliver the change that we need for the country over the time we've got in office.
"I'm absolutely convinced that we will only deliver that change, I'm absolutely determined we will, if we do the difficult things.
"Now, I know they're unpopular, I know they're difficult. Of course they're tough choices."
In a busy week for the prime minister, following the vote on Tuesday, Sir Keir will head to the US on Friday for his second trip to the White House since becoming PM in July.
Ahead of the meeting with Joe Biden, Sir Keir denied the US was angry at the UK for suspending some arms sale licences to Israel.
"We have been talking to the US beforehand and afterwards," he told the BBC.
"They are very clear that they have got a different legal system and they understand the decision that we have taken."
He said discussions with the president would be focused on a "strategic discussion" about the next few months in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Wes Streeting ‘not remotely happy’ voting to ‘take money away’ from pensioners
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said he is “not remotely happy” on having to vote to “take money away” from pensioners through cutting winter fuel allowance.
Mr Streeting did however share the Government’s argument that the move is essential to balance public finances as the Prime Minister did not rule out suspending MPs for defying the Government in Parliament.
Rosie Duffield, the Labour MP for Canterbury, is among the party’s backbenchers who have said they will not vote with the Government when the measure to limit the winter fuel allowance comes to the Commons on Tuesday.
Mr Streeting said he is not “remotely happy” about having to vote to cut the winter fuel allowance, but argued it is essential to balance public finances.
He told Sky News: “I think it is a tough choice, and we’ve had plenty of political criticism for it, I think, which demonstrates the political pain of it.
“I’m not remotely happy about it, and I’m not remotely happy about having to say to some of my constituents, I’m sorry that I’m going into work this week to vote for something that will take money away from you.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the plan to limit the winter fuel allowance in July, as she said there was a need to fill a £22 billion “black hole” in the public finances left by the previous government, a claim the Tories have challenged.
The change means that only those who claim pension credit and other means-tested benefits will receive the additional fuel payments.
Mr Streeting said pensioners “have seen what happens when politicians duck the difficult decisions”, adding: “this isn’t a Government that ducks difficult decisions or pretends you can spend money you don’t have”.
‘A matter for the chief whip’
Other Labour MPs have urged the Government not to go forward with the move by signing a Commons motion from Poole MP Neil Duncan-Jordan.
Some 11 Labour MPs are among the 27 who have signed the Early Day Motion which describes the plan as “a bureaucratic and unpopular means test” for pensioners.
Seven of the party’s MPs had the whip removed for voting to scrap the two child benefit cap.
Sir Keir Starmer said whether or not Labour MPs will be suspended from the party for voting against cuts to winter fuel payments is “a matter for the chief whip”.
He told the BBC: “We’re going into a vote. I’m glad we’re having a vote, because I think it’s very important for Parliament to speak on this.
“But every Labour MP was elected in on the same mandate as I was, which was to deliver the change that we need for the country over the time we’ve got in office.
“I’m absolutely convinced that we will only deliver that change, I’m absolutely determined we will, if we do the difficult things.
“Now, I know they’re unpopular, I know they’re difficult. Of course they’re tough choices.”
Mr Streeting went further on the “tough choices” that his cabinet colleague Ms Reeves will be implementing in the autumn budget as he warned “it’s not just pensioners”.
He told Sky News: “We have had to take into account context. And by the way, it’s not just pensioners. We’ve got a budget and the spending review coming up, there are, there are difficult choices coming, and we’re going to have to look carefully at how we make sure we can build the future for our country.”
Despite discontent from backbenchers and the cabinet Sir Keir has maintained resolve to cut the fuel allowance, saying he is “absolutely clear” the move is necessary to “fix the fundamentals and stabilise our economy”.
Sir Keir said: “Talking to many pensioners in the last two or three years, the things that have hit the most and hardest are inflation, because it got out of control under the last Government, energy bills, because the steps that were needed to be taken years ago weren’t taken, and the cost of living.
“I’m determined that no pensioner will ever be put through that before. That’s why we’re fixing the foundations now, tough though that may be.”
TUC
Paul Nowak, general secretary of the TUC, said he had “real concerns” about cuts to the winter fuel allowance, but added that Labour was dealing with a “toxic” economic legacy.
He told a press conference ahead of the annual TUC Congress in Brighton: “I don’t want to see any pensioner going into winter afraid to turn on the heating, so yes I have concerns but I recognise the difficult legacy that’s been left.
“I hope that in the Budget we can see proper support for pensioners and others who might be struggling. But I am also worried about the level of support for people wanting to go back to work, or about our members who are scared stiff of losing their job.”
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