Dartmoor MPs express concerns over winter fuel payment cuts

Two MPs with Dartmoor in their constituencies have voiced significant concerns following Chancellor Rachel Reeves' recent announcement that winter fuel payments will be substantially reduced.

The move, revealed on July 29, will restrict payments to only those pensioners who receive pension credits or specific means-tested benefits, a dramatic shift from the previous universal scheme.

Under the new policy, only pensioners receiving pension credits or other qualifying benefits such as income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, and universal credit will be eligible for winter fuel payments. 

This change drastically reduces the number of eligible recipients from 11.4 million to approximately 1.5 million, according to Sky News.

Previously, the winter fuel payment was available to all individuals above state pension age. The former system provided a base payment of £200 to those born before September 25, 1957, and £300 for those born before September 25, 1943. 

Additionally, a £300 pensioner cost of living payment was added last year.

Rebecca Smith, the newly elected MP for South West Devon, has voiced her alarm over the policy shift.

In a statement, Ms Smith criticised the Labour government's approach, stating: “I am extremely concerned to hear that the Winter Fuel allowance, which so many of my elderly pensioners rely upon, is being scrapped for many constituents. 

“I am astonished but not at all surprised to discover that Labour's first economic move has been to award above-inflation pay increases, and then pull up the drawbridge of support for millions of unsuspecting pensioners looking to cover the cost of their fuel bills this winter."

Ms Smith has also sought assurances regarding other local projects.

“Following on from the Chancellor's announcement that she plans to review the new hospital building programme, I have immediately sought re-assurances from the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care that the major capital build project for the new urgent and emergency care centre at University of Plymouth Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust (UHPNT) Derriford hospital, will not face the axe. Shovel ready and with enabling works already having taken place, this new facility will be a game-changer for the people of South West Devon and free-up capacity for emergency care at Derriford.  

“I continue to seek assurances that South West Devon will not be left to bear the  brunt of Labour's transport infrastructure cuts. 

The MP is also awaiting clarity on the future of planned rail projects designed to safeguard the far South West of England from potential transport infrastructure cuts.

“I am waiting to find out if the planned rail projects designed to protect the far South West of England from being cut-off, will still go ahead as planned.”

“The Chancellor is very evidently laying the groundwork for what will be a long cold winter of tax increases, cuts, uncertainty and higher costs all round for constituents in South West Devon. I will do everything I can to stick up for our corner of the South West.”

Mel Stride, MP for Central Devon and a Conservative leadership contender, has sharply criticised Chancellor Rachel Reeves for her approach to welfare reform. 

Mr Stride, who previously served as Work and Pensions Secretary, blasted Ms Reeves for avoiding difficult decisions on welfare while setting the stage for tax increases this autumn.

He said: “Labour would rather raise taxes than do the hard yards on welfare reform.”

He described the “spiralling” welfare bill as the “elephant in the room” and accused Ms Reeves of “wilfully fooling the public while making an active choice to raise taxes and cut pensioner benefits and infrastructure.”

He also explained that he wanted to go further in government on welfare reform, and he would make it a central part of his strategy on the economy if elected as next Tory Leader.

He told The Moorlander: “Starmer and Reeves want you to believe they have no alternative to what they are doing, wilfully fooling the public while making an active choice to raise taxes and cut pensioner benefits and infrastructure. In reality they are turning a complete blind eye to the welfare bill which will rise by £30bn in real terms over five years for working age people alone without the continuation of the urgent reforms I was bringing in at DWP, with the majority of that attributable to health and disability benefits.”

With the new budget set to be announced on October 30, the full implications of these changes will become clearer.