George Freeman has joined the Leader of the Opposition Rishi Sunak in putting forward an Early Day Motion to challenge the Government to hold a debate on Winter Fuel Payments.

The Government laid The Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024 Statutory Instrument (SI) on the 22nd August.
Under Parliamentary procedure the Government does not have to provide time for the SI to be debated, despite the heavy criticism of Labour for announcing it would cut the Winter Fuel Payments for millions of pensioners. A survey this week found that 59 per cent of people are against this cut.

The Conservative Party have taken the steps to submit this Early Day Motion to ensure that this matter is debated before Parliament, allowing Members of Parliament to put forward the views of many of their constituents.

The SI also reveals that the Labour Government have taken this decision to hit decision to hit pensioners despite there not being “a full impact assessment….produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, public or voluntary sectors is foreseen.”

The Conservative Party have submitted this motion:

“That a humble Address be presented to His Majesty, praying that the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024 (S.I., 2024, No. 148), dated 22 August, a copy of which was laid before this House on 22 August, be annulled.”

The motion has also been signed by Rishi Sunak MP, Jeremy Hunt MP, Mel Stride MP and Claire Coutinho MP.

George Freeman MP commenting said:

“Parliament needs to be able to debate this important issue. Whilst I am generally in favour of targeting benefits to those who most need it, in rural areas like Mid Norfolk, pensioners have been clobbered with the extraordinary increases in the cost of energy and the cost of living due to the pandemic fallout and Putin's war in Ukraine. This is why I have fought hard for the Triple Lock which saw the largest cash increase in the State Pension ever. 

“If Labour abandon the triple lock and Winter fuel payments then rural pensioners will be hit hard. I am therefore committed to standing up for our pensioners on this issue and holding the government to account".