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Media Coverage
The story is broadly popular regardless of political leanings or type of media outlet. The story is expected to continue to grow until the results of Tuesday’s Commons vote.
Trending – PM facing Labour rebellion over winter fuel allowance
The biggest story in the press today is ongoing coverage of the government’s plans to scrap the winter fuel allowance for roughly 10 million pensioners. There are suggestions the government could face a rebellion in the Commons vote on Tuesday.
The newspapers and online publications have united in their displeasure for the plan but they report from several different angles and through different lenses.
Basic facts
- Keir Starmer has been accused of picking “the pocket of pensioners” over his plan to cut winter fuel payments
- The policy will mean more than 10 million pensioners no longer receive payments of up to £300 to help with energy bills
- The cut is expected to save the Treasury £1.4bn this financial year
- The PM insists it’s necessary as union boss Sharon Graham calls on the PM to do a U-turn
- There’ll be a vote in the House of Commons tomorrow – Labour MPs opposing the move are expected to abstain rather than vote against it and risk suspension from the party
The reaction
The left-leaning newspapers join the traditional right in calling on the government to consider a U-turn. Some papers look ahead at the vote in the Commons on Tuesday amid reports that Labour could face a rebellion.
For many of the right-leaning publications, the elderly make up large parts of their voter base and therefore policies such as the winter fuel payments are of great concern. The Scottish National newspapers join the media in calling on MPs to vote against the move in the Commons on Tuesday.
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Trending on social media
Read the tweets!
The wealthiest in this country have been at the front of the queue for 14 years, I want to see workers and communities at the front. @UKLabour must u-turn on winter fuel payments and introduce a #WealthTax. #TUC2024 @BBCr4today @bbcnickrobinson ➡️ https://t.co/gB20yDOc8N pic.twitter.com/XWj7XkKoD4
— Sharon Graham (@UniteSharon) September 9, 2024
🚨 Labour must tax richest Brits instead of 'pick pocketing' pensioners
— Unite the union: join a union (@unitetheunion) September 8, 2024
💬 "I'm calling for @UKLabour to change course and to look at introducing a #WealthTax on one side, and on the other side borrow to invest for British industry." @UniteSharon
pic.twitter.com/cGQadcHEDC
To all Labour MPs. We are all watching you very closely tomorrow. Every single one of us , watching every single one of you. #WinterFuelPayment.
— Peter Sharpley. Corbyn. (@PeterSharpley3) September 9, 2024
In 125yrs there's been just 7 Labour Prime Ministers & just over 30yrs of Lab Governments
— Cllr Martin Abrams 🕊️🍉 (@Martin_Abrams) September 8, 2024
Imagine getting elected as PM and your 1st decisions in that rarest of opportunities are to cut #WinterFuelAllowance & keep the Tory #TwoChildBenefitCap! #bbclaurak pic.twitter.com/53GNX1XFLV
Expert opinions
Age UK, the leading charity for older people
Caroline Abraham, its director, says the winter fuel cut takes “money away from too many people who really need it” and describes the policy as “too mean”.
It’s “just wrong” that a pensioner will no longer receive this allowance if their annual salary is above £11,500, she tells the BBC’s Nicky Campbell, adding:
“The government is not short of options. This is a mistake and the sooner that is understood and responded to, the better for them and the better for older people.”
Paul Nowak, the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress
In the lead up to the keynote address in Brighton, it was said that Nowak would stress Labour can’t be expected to undo 14 years of Conservative rule overnight.
He told BBC Breakfast over the weekend that he’s ”really concerned” by the winter fuel payment cut – and has called on the government to “rethink” the decision.