In a major win for local pensioners, the government has reversed its deeply unpopular decision to cut Winter Fuel Payments. The move follows intense pressure from campaigners, including over 2,700 Keighley and Ilkley residents who signed the official petition, the highest number from any constituency in England and Wales.
Robbie Moore MP, who voted against the original cuts, said:
“After a huge campaign both locally and nationally, Labour have now announced a screeching u-turn on their choice to cut winter fuel payments. This terrible decision affected over 64,000 pensioners across our area and will define Labour's first year in power.
This is a huge win for all of us who campaigned so hard against this awful measure - including over 2,800 residents across Keighley, Ilkley, Silsden and the Worth Valley who signed the petition. That was the highest number of signatures in any constituency in England and Wales.
But let’s never forget what this government did, against the pleas of local charities, pensioners and without a proper impact assessment in place. So as they announce this screeching u-turn, the government should be ashamed of what they did to our pensioners who went without last winter. Our pensioners will certainly not forget.”
