Presenter and author Carol Vorderman has called on the prime minister to apologise for reducing winter fuel payments for pensioners.
The contentious policy was passed by Parliament today, despite several Labour MPs abstaining from the vote, with ministers stating that “tough decisions” were necessary to address public finances.
However, the move has been widely criticised by opposition MPs and campaigners, who warned that it would leave millions of pensioners struggling to make ends meet.
Speaking to Sky News’ Politics Hub show with Sophy Ridge, Vorderman described Labour’s decision to support the cut as “astonishing.”
When asked by Sophy what Sir Keir Starmer should do now, she responded: “I think he should apologise. I really do.”
The broadcaster, best known for her time on Channel 4’s gameshow Countdown, has become increasingly outspoken on political matters in recent years. In the run-up to July’s general election, she endorsed a tactical voting website aimed at “stopping the Tories.”
She explained: “I was following the election build-up closely, and we had just under two million postcodes entered [into the website]… we know it had an impact.
“And millions of people lent their vote to Labour, hoping that this gross inequality that has grown over the last 14 years would be somewhat reduced.
“And then this [cutting the winter fuel allowance] is the first thing they do.”
Vorderman said she understood why ministers might want to take the payment – worth up to £300 – from wealthier pensioners who received the money regardless of their income.
“I’ll be one of those in two years’ time,” she noted. “So I wouldn’t need the winter fuel allowance payment.”
“But to reduce the number of pensioners receiving it from 12 million to less than two million is far too drastic.
“And I’m shocked by it because they could raise that money in so many other ways.”
When asked by Sophy if she believed the government had “deceived” the public before coming to power, she replied: “I do, I really do. And I’m shocked because, even setting aside the fact that many pensioners will suffer because of it… it’s unbelievable that the first action of this new Labour government is this?
“It’s not, I believe, what they were voted in to do. It’s quite astonishing, really.”
How Did Dorset MP’s Vote?
Liberal Democrat MP for North Dorset and Mid Poole, Vikki Slade, voted in favour of the Conservatives’ motion, along with Christchurch MP Chris Chope and Simon Hoare, MP for North Dorset.
Labour’s Jessica Toale, MP for Bournemouth West, Tom Hayes, MP for Bournemouth East, and Lloyd Hatton, MP for South Dorset, voted with their party to abolish the winter fuel payment regulations.
Poole MP Neil Duncan-Jordan, a critic of his government’s stance on winter fuel payments, is believed not to have recorded a vote.
In a letter to a constituent he stated:
…I will continue to campaign for this decision to be reversed between now and the Budget on 30 October – whilst at the same time building support from both inside and outside the Labour Party. I appreciate from the outside this might be difficult to understand, but strategically it’s the best way forward.’
Not recording a vote does not necessarily indicate an intentional abstention – MPs may be unable to attend due to other commitments.
Winter Fuel Payments For Pensioners: What You Need To Know
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