Scrapping winter fuel payments will plunge more pensioners into poverty

Means-testing winter fuel payments is more nuanced than headlines suggest, says Tim Farron. But it runs the risk of leaving older people worse off. If we want to look after those on the margins, Christians must pray for wise leaders and support those who are vulnerable

Plans to scrap the winter fuel allowance for the majority of pensioners have been met with outrage across the political spectrum. Keir Starmer has dug in, telling journalist Laura Kuennsberg that he is prepared to be unpopular as part of Labour’s plans to balance the books – both with the country and his own MPs, many of whom are threatening to abstain or vote against the proposals this week.

The winter fuel payment was introduced by the last Labour government in 1997 to tackle pensioner fuel poverty. Since then, it has been paid to all pensioners, regardless of income. The government now proposes to restrict it only to those who also claim the means-tested pension credit.