Starmer ‘determined’ to make ‘tough decisions’ ahead of winter fuel payment vote
Sir Keir Starmer has said he is “determined” to make tough decisions ahead of a vote on whether to cut winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners.
MPs are set to vote on Tuesday on the decision to change the payment, designed to help the elderly with higher heating bills, so just those claiming pension credit are eligible.
During an official visit to Dublin on Saturday, Sir Keir refused to be drawn on whether he would punish any Labour MPs who vote against the government next week.
But he told broadcasters: “I was elected, and our government was elected with a clear mandate for change. We will only bring about that change if we stabilise our economy.
“We have looked at the books, there is £22 billion missing from the books and we have got to deal with that. I am not going to ignore it.
“We have got to take tough decisions. Targeting the winter fuel payments is a tough decision.”
He said that “safeguards” are in place for pensioners already on benefits – but added: “I am determined that we will take tough decisions because the change which is improved living standards, people feeling better off, better public services, dealing with crime and immigration and issues like that, that change will only happen if we fix the foundations now.”
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Starmer: Winter fuel cuts will stabilise economy
Currently, everyone aged 66 and over receives the payment.
The proposed cut is expected to reduce the number receiving the benefit, worth up to £300 a year, by 10 million – from 11.4 million to 1.5 million.
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Keir Starmer’s first official visit to Ireland
The government says the move will save around £1.4bn this financial year.
Amid a backlash from opposition parties and campaign groups, ministers have been urging the 800,000 eligible pensioners who could receive pension credit to apply.
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They have also said that maintaining the pensions triple lock, introduced by the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition, will outstrip the cut over the coming years.
The government had previously resisted a vote on winter fuel payments.
But, following pressure from other parties who oppose the cut, Commons leader Lucy Powell announced it would be debated and voted on 10 September.
The last time Labour MPs failed to follow the whip, seven of them were suspended from the parliamentary party.
The MPs, among them former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, had the Labour whip suspended for six months for supporting an amendment to the scrapping of the two-child benefit limit.
Politics
Wes Streeting ‘crossed the line’ by opposing assisted dying in public, says Labour peer Harriet Harman
Wes Streeting “crossed the line” by opposing assisted dying in public and the argument shouldn’t “come down to resources”, a Labour peer has said.
Speaking on Sky News’ Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Baroness Harriet Harman criticised the health secretary for revealing how he is going to vote on the matter when it comes before parliament later this month.
MPs are being given a free vote, meaning they can side with their conscience and not party lines, so the government is supposed to be staying neutral.
But Mr Streeting has made clear he will vote against legalising assisted dying, citing concerns end-of-life care is not good enough for people to make an informed choice, and that some could feel pressured into the decision to save the NHS money.
He has also ordered a review into the potential costs of changing the law, warning it could come at the expense of other NHS services if implemented.
Baroness Harman said Mr Streeting has “crossed the line in two ways”.
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“He should not have said how he was going to vote, because that breaches neutrality and sends a signal,” she said.
“And secondly… he’s said the problem is that it will cost money to bring in an assisted dying measure, and therefore he will have to cut other services.
“But paradoxically, he also said it would be a slippery slope because people will be forced to bring about their own death in order to save the NHS money. Well, it can’t be doing both things.
“It can’t be both costing the NHS money and saving the NHS money.”
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Review into assisted dying costs
Baroness Harman said the argument “should not come down to resources” as it is a “huge moral issue” affecting “only a tiny number of people”.
She added that people should not mistake Mr Streeting for being “a kind of proxy for Keir Starmer”.
“The government is genuinely neutral and all of those backbenchers, they can vote whichever way they want,” she added.
Read more on this story:
‘Fix care before assisted dying legislation’
Why assisted dying is controversial – and where it’s already legal
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously expressed support for assisted dying, but it is not clear how he intends to vote on the issue or if he will make his decision public ahead of time.
The cabinet has varying views on the topic, with the likes of Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood siding with Mr Streeting in her opposition but Energy Secretary Ed Miliband being for it.
Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband is said to support the bill. Pic: Reuters
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has concerns. Pic: Reuters
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The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill is being championed by Labour backbencher Kim Leadbeater, who wants to give people with six months left to live the choice to end their lives.
Under her proposals, two independent doctors must confirm a patient is eligible for assisted dying and a High Court judge must give their approval.
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Labour MP Kim Leadbeater discusses End of Life Bill
The bill will also include punishments of up to 14 years in prison for those who break the law, including coercing someone into ending their own life.
MPs will debate and vote on the legislation on 29 November, in what will be the first Commons vote on assisted dying since 2015, when the proposal was defeated.
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