In the end, the vote to cut the winter fuel allowance passed easily. Hundreds of loyalist Labour MPs tramped through the lobbies to back the government’s controversial plan. No 10 will hope the heat has gone out of the issue.Well, it's approaching panto season, so just let me say 'Oh no, it won't!'
Scores of MPs abstained in silent protest, fearful that they could be condemning vulnerable pensioners to a cold, hard winter.
Government sources argued that only a dozen of the 52 Labour MPs who were absent for the vote had not been authorised in advance. The others had legitimate reasons including medical appointments and official travel. But what they did not acknowledge was that many of those who had permission to abstain were bitterly opposed to the cut.
Then they should have done the decent thing and voted against it. Instead, they took the coward's way out.
In the days running up to the vote, whips had been encouraging them to find urgent constituency business so they could legitimately be absent.
I'm no longer shocked at the perfidy of politicians...
Almost all Labour MPs, however, also blamed the Tories for the difficult decisions that they left the chancellor to take. “None of us wanted to do this,” said one. “But we wouldn’t have to if they hadn’t left us with such a mess.” A number of them do not regard the fight as over – and are planning to push ministers to look at extra help for the most vulnerable as the months get colder, perhaps by expanding the warm homes discount or bringing in a cheaper social tariff for some pensioners.
How quickly they forget 'There's no money left'...
5 comments:
The "heat going out" is the issue!!
Putting your Party, before your constituents, just so you can stay in a job your constituents put you in, and pay for, is the act of a political, and moral, coward. Let's hope that this is remembered at local, as well as general, elections.
"I was only following orders."
Haven't we heard that before, somewhere?
Penseivat
'Almost all Labour MPs' are missing the point. The Conservatives lost the General Election because they were blamed for their indolence by the electorate - so Labour continuing to blame 'the Tories' is no surprise and is just flogging a dead horse. What Labour MPs should be taking on board is that if you act poorly in Government the electorate will punish Labour too. They have not started well.
As an aside, I understand that Reeves has been given the use of Dorneywood, rather than Rayner the deputy PM. Personally, I think it's a good move, as the ginger growler would probably sell it and not pay capital gains tax on the profit, as "she lived there".
Penseivat
Labour might 'save' £1.5billion with this stupid vote-losing cut, but if all the pensioners affected claim benefits it will cost approx £3billion. Own goal, Reeves?
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