THE official opposition to Barnsley Council’s Labour leadership yesterday slammed the town’s three MPs for failing to act in thousands of local pensioners’ best interests amid an ongoing row over a winter fuel payment cut.
Barnsley Liberal Democrats have called on the Labour government to stop the planned cuts to the allowance, claiming ‘blood will be on councillors’ and MPs’ hands’ this winter.
The plans, which means the previously universal payment will now only be available to people in receipt of pension credits, have been widely condemned - including by the Barnsley Labour Group who are set to write to the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves - for setting the threshold for payment too low.
It is estimated that almost 39,000 older people in Barnsley will not receive the payment this winter.
Coun Hannah Kitching, leader of Barnsley Lib Dems, condemned the move at yesterday’s full council meeting during a debate.
“We’ve heard so much anger about this cut to winter fuel payments - from residents on doorsteps who are now going to miss out, despite being only just over the threshold for pension credits, and from others who can manage without themselves but are worried for others,” she said.
“While Barnsley’s Labour councillors have spoken against the cut, all three Labour MPs representing the town have defended it, voting in favour when it came to Parliament recently.
“In recent winters too many older people have had to choose between heating and eating - and the cost-of-living crisis isn’t over yet, with the energy price cap rising by ten per cent again next month.
“And so the Liberal Democrats are clear - the cut cannot go ahead this winter.
“That’s why we’re calling on the government to not just undertake a review of the eligibility criteria but to stop the plans immediately.
“We cannot leave vulnerable and disabled older people in Barnsley to suffer this winter.
“We’re talking about people who have worked all their lives and they’re angry so while we’re glad the Labour council’s brought this forward, we want a firmer stance and it’s why we’ve put forward some amendments to the local authority’s motion.
“Penistone East, although people assume it’s wealthy, has some of the highest rates of fuel poverty in the entire borough.
“Many older people in Barnsley will slip through the net - they’ll be cold, they’ll choose not to eat, they’ll become ill and they may die.
“We need to stop this cut, right now, and speak up because that is what needs to happen.
“Labour promised change and I felt cautiously optimistic.
“Every single MP in South Yorkshire represent Labour - we really need them to stand up.
“But what a depressing, miserable, soul-crushing period we find ourselves in - this government promised to be better but I can’t cut anyone any slack on this one.”
Council leader Sir Steve Houghton said Barnsley’s MPs - Dan Jarvis, Stephanie Peacock and Marie Tidball - were put in a thankless position due to their Labour roles after they sided with the political party.
Councillors voted in favour of the local authority writing to the government to put forward local concerns - but admitted Labour’s decision on the overall scheme would not alter and that the Lib Dem amendment would not be backed.
He added: “It’s got to be a sensible debate and not one that can be used for political point-scoring because we could easily discuss the Lib Dems’ support of the Conservatives with things such as the ‘bedroom tax’, where people lost their homes.
“Labour’s not going to reverse this but what we can do - constructively - is write to the Chancellor to put our views forward and the impact this will have locally.
“Hopefully we can get some movement that way - we will make our points in a sensible way to try and help people where we can.”
