Tewkesbury MP Cameron Thomas to Oppose Cut to Winter Fuel Allowance

This week the Liberal Democrats will attempt to block the government's withdrawal of the winter fuel allowance, with thousands of vulnerable pensioners set to lose the £300 payment. The motion could protect almost 20,000 pensioners in Tewkesbury Constituency, restoring the payment ahead of winter.

Tewkesbury MP Cameron Thomas commented "Let me be clear: I believe the Winter Fuel Allowance Scheme in its current format is imperfect, issuing blanket financial support to pensioners regardless of their economic circumstances, rather than targeting those who genuinely need it. It is characteristic of the previous government's careless attitute to public money; at best it is a lazy policy and at worst, a cynical attempt to keep favour with the Conservative Party's key voter demographic. Regardless, many pensioners desperately need this money, with energy bills still significantly higher than in 2022. To my mind, announcing this cut in the same week that Ofgem accounced a 10% increase to energy bills, just a few months ahead of winter, amounted to the government's first significant error in judgement of it's adminstration.

For thousands of my constituents, many of whom have already been in touch, this payment may be the difference between them heating their homes, or shivering under blankets throughout the winter. For that reason, I have put my name to the Liberal Democrats' motion to block the cut to the Winter Fuel Allowance".