Unions deliver blow to Starmer over winter
fuel payments
Unions called on Labour to reverse its decision to cut the winter fuel payment at the party conference
Wednesday 25 September 2024
SOCIALIST WORKER Issue 2924By Yuri Prasad
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham challenging the winter fuel cuts at Labour conference (Photo: twitter/ @OliJProbertHill)
Labour Party conference delegates dealt a blow to Keir Starmer on Wednesday by passing a motion that called on the government to reverse its cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance.
Sharon Graham, leader of the Unite union, moved the motion which heavily criticised Labour’s economic policies.
To loud applause, she told the conference, “I do not understand how our new Labour government can cut the winter fuel allowance for pensioners and leave the super-rich untouched.”
“This is not what people voted for. It is the wrong decision and needs to be reversed.”
Graham demanded the government invest in industry, rather than implement “austerity mark 2”—and she insisted the rich be made to pay their share.
“It’s no good having sympathy for workers at Grangemouth losing their jobs. They don’t need pity,” she argued.
“They need Labour to step up to the plate and not allow a billionaire, who buys a football club as a hobby, to throw these workers on the scrap heap.”
That speech drew some of the most animated scenes of the whole conference. Anti-austerity delegates, some of whom wore special T-shirts, whooped and cheered Graham and Alan Tate from the CWU union as they spoke.
They were less thrilled, however, by delegates that spoke to defend the leadership.
Maggie Cosin, a delegate from Dover and Deal, told the conference that she couldn’t understand why Labour members were giving the Daily Telegraph newspaper a story to “bash” the government with.
She said pensioners such as her didn’t need the £200 a year payment anyway, and she gave hers away.
Ellie Emberson, a student delegate from Reading, said that she also opposed the motion because her Daily Mail newspaper-reading nan would agree with some of it.
When the conference chair called for a vote on the motion, the “for” delegates knew they had the wind in their sales. They cheered loudly as they raised their hands.
But the no voters were sour faced, barely looking beyond their ranks to see the contempt of other delegates.
The chair said there was no need for a card vote as the show of hands was clear enough.
In itself, conference passing the motion means little as the government is not bound by it. But it is a marker of just how unpopular Starmer and his gang are, just months after they were elected by a landslide.
After the motion passed, the FBU fire brigades’ union said, “We fought for a Labour government on the basis that it would end austerity after more than a decade of attacks on living standards—and Keir Starmer must not let voters down.
“Labour must tax the rich and wealthy instead.”
It is right, of course. But the unions must go far further. Most union leaders and officers have so far done all in their power to shield the government, telling members that they must give Labour time.
That period must end. And they should replace it with a new willingness to strike to win the changes that working people are demanding.
That is the only way to implement the kind of policies that Graham called for in her speech.
Labour Party conference delegates dealt a blow to Keir Starmer on Wednesday by passing a motion that called on the government to reverse its cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance.
Sharon Graham, leader of the Unite union, moved the motion which heavily criticised Labour’s economic policies.
To loud applause, she told the conference, “I do not understand how our new Labour government can cut the winter fuel allowance for pensioners and leave the super-rich untouched.”
“This is not what people voted for. It is the wrong decision and needs to be reversed.”
Graham demanded the government invest in industry, rather than implement “austerity mark 2”—and she insisted the rich be made to pay their share.
“It’s no good having sympathy for workers at Grangemouth losing their jobs. They don’t need pity,” she argued.
“They need Labour to step up to the plate and not allow a billionaire, who buys a football club as a hobby, to throw these workers on the scrap heap.”
That speech drew some of the most animated scenes of the whole conference. Anti-austerity delegates, some of whom wore special T-shirts, whooped and cheered Graham and Alan Tate from the CWU union as they spoke.
They were less thrilled, however, by delegates that spoke to defend the leadership.
Maggie Cosin, a delegate from Dover and Deal, told the conference that she couldn’t understand why Labour members were giving the Daily Telegraph newspaper a story to “bash” the government with.
She said pensioners such as her didn’t need the £200 a year payment anyway, and she gave hers away.
Ellie Emberson, a student delegate from Reading, said that she also opposed the motion because her Daily Mail newspaper-reading nan would agree with some of it.
When the conference chair called for a vote on the motion, the “for” delegates knew they had the wind in their sales. They cheered loudly as they raised their hands.
But the no voters were sour faced, barely looking beyond their ranks to see the contempt of other delegates.
The chair said there was no need for a card vote as the show of hands was clear enough.
In itself, conference passing the motion means little as the government is not bound by it. But it is a marker of just how unpopular Starmer and his gang are, just months after they were elected by a landslide.
After the motion passed, the FBU fire brigades’ union said, “We fought for a Labour government on the basis that it would end austerity after more than a decade of attacks on living standards—and Keir Starmer must not let voters down.
“Labour must tax the rich and wealthy instead.”
It is right, of course. But the unions must go far further. Most union leaders and officers have so far done all in their power to shield the government, telling members that they must give Labour time.
That period must end. And they should replace it with a new willingness to strike to win the changes that working people are demanding.
That is the only way to implement the kind of policies that Graham called for in her speech.
Embarrassing blow for Keir Starmer as Labour members vote for £300 winter fuel payment cut U-turn
By Alexander Brown
Westminster Correspondent
By Alexander Brown
Westminster Correspondent
THE SCOTSMAN
Published 25th Sep 2024,
The result of the winter fuel payment vote is non-binding, but a blow for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer
Labour delegates have voted in favour of a motion calling for the winter fuel cut to be reversed in an embarrassing blow for Sir Keir Starmer and the party leadership.
The motion, named An Economy for the Future and tabled by Sharon Graham of the Unite union, was narrowly carried on Wednesday morning by a show of hands in a rowdy hall at the Labour Party annual conference in Liverpool.
Also backed by the Communication Workers Union, the result will frustrate Sir Keir, but is non-binding.
Published 25th Sep 2024,
The result of the winter fuel payment vote is non-binding, but a blow for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer
Labour delegates have voted in favour of a motion calling for the winter fuel cut to be reversed in an embarrassing blow for Sir Keir Starmer and the party leadership.
The motion, named An Economy for the Future and tabled by Sharon Graham of the Unite union, was narrowly carried on Wednesday morning by a show of hands in a rowdy hall at the Labour Party annual conference in Liverpool.
Also backed by the Communication Workers Union, the result will frustrate Sir Keir, but is non-binding.
12,000 residents across Northamptonshire will still be entitled to winter fuel payments after means testing
Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, told members: “I do not understand how our new Labour government can cut the winter fuel allowance for pensioners and leave the super-rich untouched. This is not what people voted for.
"It is the wrong decision and needs to be reversed."
Ms Graham then pointed out the UK is the sixth richest economy in the world. She said: "We have the money. Britain needs investment, not austerity mark two. We won't get any gold badge for shaving peanuts off our debt.
"These fiscal rules are self-imposed and the decision to keep them is hanging like a noose around our necks."
Defending the government, work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall insisted the party had “done more to help the poorest pensioners in the last two months than the Tories did in 14 years”.
Sharon Graham, the general secretary of Unite, told members: “I do not understand how our new Labour government can cut the winter fuel allowance for pensioners and leave the super-rich untouched. This is not what people voted for.
"It is the wrong decision and needs to be reversed."
Ms Graham then pointed out the UK is the sixth richest economy in the world. She said: "We have the money. Britain needs investment, not austerity mark two. We won't get any gold badge for shaving peanuts off our debt.
"These fiscal rules are self-imposed and the decision to keep them is hanging like a noose around our necks."
Defending the government, work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall insisted the party had “done more to help the poorest pensioners in the last two months than the Tories did in 14 years”.
Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
She told the Labour party conference: “Focusing winter fuel payments on the poorest pensioners wasn’t a decision we wanted or expected to make, but when we promised we could be trusted with taxpayers’ money – we meant it.
“And when we were faced with a £22 billion black hole, which the Tories left this year, we had to act, because we know what happened when Liz Truss played fast and loose with the public finances. It was working people and pensioners on fixed incomes who paid the highest price.
“We took what I know is a difficult decision, but let me tell you conference - this Labour government has done more to help the poorest pensioners in the last two months than the Tories did in 14 years.
“The biggest ever drive to get pensioners on pension credit, backed by our commitment to the pensions triple lock. This will increase the state pension by an estimated £1,700 this parliament, with an extra £6bn of funding forecast next year.”
There was also support for the government from members, with one, Maggie Cosin, telling conference she did not need the payment and the money should be used to help children and others in need.
She said: “Every single year, £200 comes into my bank account and every year I go and buy stuff for the food bank with it. I don’t need it, the children of this country need it.”
Ms Cosin said there was a need to “sort the economy”, adding: “It’s not a matter of taking it away from poor pensioners, it’s a matter of getting it to others.”
Earlier shouts of “save the winter fuel” could be heard in the conference hall, as activists protested at the Unite stand in the venue. Responding to the result, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn called for the Prime Minister to listen to the membership.
He said: "Keir Starmer must finally listen to voters, admit he got it wrong and U-turn on the Labour government's damaging cuts to the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners.
"The fact that the Prime Minister's own party members feel obliged to speak out, and demand he reverse these cuts, should tell him just how angry voters are at his cuts
"Voters are furious that while Keir Starmer and Labour government ministers have been lining their own pockets with more than £800,000 of designer clothes and freebies, they are imposing austerity cuts on the rest of us and robbing £500 from pensioners this winter."
She told the Labour party conference: “Focusing winter fuel payments on the poorest pensioners wasn’t a decision we wanted or expected to make, but when we promised we could be trusted with taxpayers’ money – we meant it.
“And when we were faced with a £22 billion black hole, which the Tories left this year, we had to act, because we know what happened when Liz Truss played fast and loose with the public finances. It was working people and pensioners on fixed incomes who paid the highest price.
“We took what I know is a difficult decision, but let me tell you conference - this Labour government has done more to help the poorest pensioners in the last two months than the Tories did in 14 years.
“The biggest ever drive to get pensioners on pension credit, backed by our commitment to the pensions triple lock. This will increase the state pension by an estimated £1,700 this parliament, with an extra £6bn of funding forecast next year.”
There was also support for the government from members, with one, Maggie Cosin, telling conference she did not need the payment and the money should be used to help children and others in need.
She said: “Every single year, £200 comes into my bank account and every year I go and buy stuff for the food bank with it. I don’t need it, the children of this country need it.”
Ms Cosin said there was a need to “sort the economy”, adding: “It’s not a matter of taking it away from poor pensioners, it’s a matter of getting it to others.”
Earlier shouts of “save the winter fuel” could be heard in the conference hall, as activists protested at the Unite stand in the venue. Responding to the result, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn called for the Prime Minister to listen to the membership.
He said: "Keir Starmer must finally listen to voters, admit he got it wrong and U-turn on the Labour government's damaging cuts to the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners.
"The fact that the Prime Minister's own party members feel obliged to speak out, and demand he reverse these cuts, should tell him just how angry voters are at his cuts
"Voters are furious that while Keir Starmer and Labour government ministers have been lining their own pockets with more than £800,000 of designer clothes and freebies, they are imposing austerity cuts on the rest of us and robbing £500 from pensioners this winter."
Labour conference backs motion calling for reversal of Winter Fuel Allowance cuts
Chris Jarvis
Delegates at this year’s Labour Party Conference have dealt a blow to the party leadership by backing a motion calling for the government to not go ahead with its planned cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance. The non-binding resolution passed by the conference says that Labour should “reverse the introduction of means-testing for the Winter Fuel Allowance“.
Alongside this, the motion called for the introduction of a wealth tax on the top 1% of earners in the UK.
The motion was proposed by the Unite trade union and seconded by a delegate from the Communication Workers’ Union.
Speaking in support of the motion, Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham said: “People simply do not understand, I do not understand, how our new Labour government can cut the winter fuel allowance for pensioners and leave the super-rich untouched.
“This is not what people voted for. It’s the wrong decision, and it needs to be reversed.
“Friends, we are the sixth richest economy in the world. We have the money. Britain needs investment, not austerity mark two.
“We won’t get any gold badges to shaving peanuts off our debt. These fiscal rules are self-imposed, and the decision to keep them is hanging like a noose around our necks.”
Labour’s conference passing the motion is highly embarrassing for the prime minister Keir Starmer and the chancellor Rachel Reeves, who have faced heavy pressure to not go ahead with the changes to the Winter Fuel Allowance. Earlier in the conference, Reeves said cutting the Winter Fuel Allowance was “the right decision in the circumstances that we inherited”.
Chris Jarvis is head of strategy and development at Left Foot Forward
Unite proposed the motion calling for Labour to change course
Chris Jarvis
Today
Left Foot ForwardDelegates at this year’s Labour Party Conference have dealt a blow to the party leadership by backing a motion calling for the government to not go ahead with its planned cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance. The non-binding resolution passed by the conference says that Labour should “reverse the introduction of means-testing for the Winter Fuel Allowance“.
Alongside this, the motion called for the introduction of a wealth tax on the top 1% of earners in the UK.
The motion was proposed by the Unite trade union and seconded by a delegate from the Communication Workers’ Union.
Speaking in support of the motion, Unite’s general secretary Sharon Graham said: “People simply do not understand, I do not understand, how our new Labour government can cut the winter fuel allowance for pensioners and leave the super-rich untouched.
“This is not what people voted for. It’s the wrong decision, and it needs to be reversed.
“Friends, we are the sixth richest economy in the world. We have the money. Britain needs investment, not austerity mark two.
“We won’t get any gold badges to shaving peanuts off our debt. These fiscal rules are self-imposed, and the decision to keep them is hanging like a noose around our necks.”
Labour’s conference passing the motion is highly embarrassing for the prime minister Keir Starmer and the chancellor Rachel Reeves, who have faced heavy pressure to not go ahead with the changes to the Winter Fuel Allowance. Earlier in the conference, Reeves said cutting the Winter Fuel Allowance was “the right decision in the circumstances that we inherited”.
Chris Jarvis is head of strategy and development at Left Foot Forward
Unions win vote to reverse winter fuel cut in blow for Keir Starmer
While motions at the party conference are non-binding, and the government is not required to respond to them, the vote highlights major division within the party over the controversial policy
Millie Cooke
Political correspondent
While motions at the party conference are non-binding, and the government is not required to respond to them, the vote highlights major division within the party over the controversial policy
Millie Cooke
Political correspondent
,Archie Mitchell
THE INDPENDENT
Delegates at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool have voted to reverse the government’s controversial cut to winter fuel payments, in a blow to Sir Keir Starmer.
While motions at the party conference are non-binding, and the government is not required to respond to them, the vote highlights major division within the party over the controversial policy.
In July, Rachel Reeves announced that older people not in receipt of pension credits or other means-tested benefits will no longer receive winter fuel payments from this year onwards.
Treasury deputy: Labour didn't plan winter fuel allowance cuts before election
The decision came as part of a series of spending cuts to address a black hole in the public finances left by the previous Conservative government announced in July by the chancellor.
The winter fuel payment is a payment of either £200 or £300 to help pensioners with their heating bills.
THE INDPENDENT
Delegates at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool have voted to reverse the government’s controversial cut to winter fuel payments, in a blow to Sir Keir Starmer.
While motions at the party conference are non-binding, and the government is not required to respond to them, the vote highlights major division within the party over the controversial policy.
In July, Rachel Reeves announced that older people not in receipt of pension credits or other means-tested benefits will no longer receive winter fuel payments from this year onwards.
Treasury deputy: Labour didn't plan winter fuel allowance cuts before election
The decision came as part of a series of spending cuts to address a black hole in the public finances left by the previous Conservative government announced in July by the chancellor.
The winter fuel payment is a payment of either £200 or £300 to help pensioners with their heating bills.
Delegates at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool have voted to reverse the government’s controversial cut to winter fuel payments, in a damaging blow to Sir Keir Starmer’s authority (BBC Today)
Around 10 million pensioners and seven million pensioner households are expected to be affected by the changes. Ms Reeves and Sir Keir have argued that increases in the state pension will outweigh the cut, leaving pensioners better off than they are currently even without winter fuel payments.
The motion, which was passed by a show of hands, said: “Britain cannot wait for growth, nor turn back to failed austerity.
“We need a vision where pensioners are not the first to face a new wave of cuts and those that profited from decades of deregulation finally help to rebuild Britain.”
It also calls for an end to the “fiscal rules which prevent borrowing to invest” brought in under the previous Tory government, as well as the introduction of wealth taxes to ensure there are “no further cuts to welfare provision for working people and pensioners”.
They propose taxing the top one per cent, equalising capital gains tax with income tax and imposing national insurance on investment income.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has described the policy as “cruel”, urging the prime minister to admit he made a “misstep”.
She said: “The first thing Labour does is to take away the winter fuel allowance from the poorest in our society while they leave the wealthiest people pretty much untouched.”
Speaking ahead of the vote on Wednesday morning, Ms Graham said: “I do not understand, how our new Labour government can cut the winter fuel allowance for pensioners and leave the super-rich untouched.
“This is not what people voted for. It is the wrong decision and needs to be reversed.
“Friends, we are the sixth richest economy in the world. We have the money. Britain needs investment, not austerity mark two. We won’t get any gold badge for shaving peanuts off our debt.”
Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer stuck the boot in over the row, saying there is a “goundswell of support” for changing course on the policy.
She added: “Targeting some of the most vulnerable to fix the supposed black hole in the public finances is cruel and unnecessary.
“There is another way. A fairer way. As the successful motion by Unite makes clear, taxing multi-millionaires and billionaires a little more would not only easily cover the cost of winter fuel payments for all pensioners but also generate additional funds for much needed investment in our health and social care services.”
Labour will not u-turn on the policy despite the rebellion. A spokesman said: “Labour was elected on our manifesto commitment to sound fiscal rules, economic growth is our primary mission and we will take the tough decisions now to rebuild Britain."
Around 10 million pensioners and seven million pensioner households are expected to be affected by the changes. Ms Reeves and Sir Keir have argued that increases in the state pension will outweigh the cut, leaving pensioners better off than they are currently even without winter fuel payments.
The motion, which was passed by a show of hands, said: “Britain cannot wait for growth, nor turn back to failed austerity.
“We need a vision where pensioners are not the first to face a new wave of cuts and those that profited from decades of deregulation finally help to rebuild Britain.”
It also calls for an end to the “fiscal rules which prevent borrowing to invest” brought in under the previous Tory government, as well as the introduction of wealth taxes to ensure there are “no further cuts to welfare provision for working people and pensioners”.
They propose taxing the top one per cent, equalising capital gains tax with income tax and imposing national insurance on investment income.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has described the policy as “cruel”, urging the prime minister to admit he made a “misstep”.
She said: “The first thing Labour does is to take away the winter fuel allowance from the poorest in our society while they leave the wealthiest people pretty much untouched.”
Speaking ahead of the vote on Wednesday morning, Ms Graham said: “I do not understand, how our new Labour government can cut the winter fuel allowance for pensioners and leave the super-rich untouched.
“This is not what people voted for. It is the wrong decision and needs to be reversed.
“Friends, we are the sixth richest economy in the world. We have the money. Britain needs investment, not austerity mark two. We won’t get any gold badge for shaving peanuts off our debt.”
Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer stuck the boot in over the row, saying there is a “goundswell of support” for changing course on the policy.
She added: “Targeting some of the most vulnerable to fix the supposed black hole in the public finances is cruel and unnecessary.
“There is another way. A fairer way. As the successful motion by Unite makes clear, taxing multi-millionaires and billionaires a little more would not only easily cover the cost of winter fuel payments for all pensioners but also generate additional funds for much needed investment in our health and social care services.”
Labour will not u-turn on the policy despite the rebellion. A spokesman said: “Labour was elected on our manifesto commitment to sound fiscal rules, economic growth is our primary mission and we will take the tough decisions now to rebuild Britain."
Keir Starmer suffers blow as Labour conference votes against winter fuel cut
The motion, now passed by Labour delegates, called for means testing of the winter fuel allowance to be reversed and for an end to fiscal rules which prevent borrowing to invest, as well as the introduction of a wealth tax.
It was passed by hand-vote in the conference hall, according to the rules of the party. There was initially some confusion over whether the motion had carried, as the vote appeared to be extremely close.
The chair of the conference arrangements committee (CAC), Lynne Morris, had faced boos and heckles from the conference floor after she announced the timing for the debate and vote on Monday.
Although the vote is non-binding, the Labour leadership’s defeat makes for a downbeat ending to the party’s first conference in government for 15 years.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has described the policy as “cruel” and has called on the prime minister to admit he made a “misstep”.
She has said: “The first thing Labour does is to take away the winter fuel allowance from the poorest in our society while they leave the wealthiest people pretty much untouched.”
CWU general secretary Dave Ward said his union will continue to campaign for the policy to change.
“We don’t accept it is good economics”, he said.
Josh Self is Editor of Politics.co.uk, follow him on X/Twitter here.
Labour conference has voted to condemn the government’s decision to cut the winter fuel payment for more than 9 million pensioners.
The conference motion, calling for ministers to “reverse” the removal of the allowance from all but the poorest pensioners, was passed by on Wednesday morning.
The vote is non-binding, meaning the government is not obliged to change the policy.
Unite and the Communication Workers Union, which co-sponsored the motion, had hoped the vote would take place on Monday, the busiest day of the event in Liverpool. However, it was shifted to the final hour of the conference, following the final ministerial speeches and with many delegates already having departed.
The conference motion, calling for ministers to “reverse” the removal of the allowance from all but the poorest pensioners, was passed by on Wednesday morning.
The vote is non-binding, meaning the government is not obliged to change the policy.
Unite and the Communication Workers Union, which co-sponsored the motion, had hoped the vote would take place on Monday, the busiest day of the event in Liverpool. However, it was shifted to the final hour of the conference, following the final ministerial speeches and with many delegates already having departed.
The motion, now passed by Labour delegates, called for means testing of the winter fuel allowance to be reversed and for an end to fiscal rules which prevent borrowing to invest, as well as the introduction of a wealth tax.
It was passed by hand-vote in the conference hall, according to the rules of the party. There was initially some confusion over whether the motion had carried, as the vote appeared to be extremely close.
The chair of the conference arrangements committee (CAC), Lynne Morris, had faced boos and heckles from the conference floor after she announced the timing for the debate and vote on Monday.
Although the vote is non-binding, the Labour leadership’s defeat makes for a downbeat ending to the party’s first conference in government for 15 years.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has described the policy as “cruel” and has called on the prime minister to admit he made a “misstep”.
She has said: “The first thing Labour does is to take away the winter fuel allowance from the poorest in our society while they leave the wealthiest people pretty much untouched.”
CWU general secretary Dave Ward said his union will continue to campaign for the policy to change.
“We don’t accept it is good economics”, he said.
Josh Self is Editor of Politics.co.uk, follow him on X/Twitter here.
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