Opposition leader Steve Count has called for a four-pronged response by Cambridgeshire County Council to the Labour government’s decision to scrap the Winter Fuel Allowance for pensioners.
He says scrapping the payment “will deny crucial heating assistance to up to 124,303 pensioners across Cambridgeshire this winter, leaving many to face the grim choice of ‘heat or eat’”.
He wants the council to:
1: Run a proactive council-led awareness campaign to ensure eligible pensioners are informed about their rights to Pension Credit and how it can help them receive the Winter Fuel Payment.
2: Instruct the chief executive Stephen Moir to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves “urging a review of this unjust means-testing decision”.
3: Commit Cambridgeshire County Council to support Age UK’s ‘Save the Winter Fuel Payment for Struggling Pensioners’ petition and encourage all members “to join in this critical fight for our seniors”.
4: Support ongoing efforts to promote Pension Credit uptake “through collaboration with local charities and community organizations to ensure that every eligible pensioner receives the support they deserve”.
Cllr Count will present a motion to full council on October 22 “to raise awareness of the government’s decision to halt non means tested Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners and the impact of that decision”.
He said: “In a shocking move that underscores their failure to protect the most vulnerable members of our society, the Labour-led government has decided to halt non-means-tested Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners.
“This decision, spearheaded by Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves, will deny crucial heating assistance to up to 124,303 pensioners across Cambridgeshire this winter, leaving many to face the grim choice of ‘heat or eat’”.
Cllr Count says the Conservative group motion, which he will propose, is to raise awareness of the “devastating impact of this cut” and calls for immediate action to “protect our elderly residents from the dire consequences of fuel poverty”.
He said Labour’s decision to restrict Winter Fuel Payments only to those on means-tested benefits, such as Pension Credit, fails to consider the many seniors who do not claim those benefits despite being eligible.
“According to Age UK, as many as 2 million pensioners nationwide who urgently need heating assistance will be left out in the cold, and the fallout from this decision could have far-reaching implications for the health and well-being of our community’s elderly population,” he said.
“By means-testing Winter Fuel Payments, Labour is abandoning those who need help the most.
“This is more than just a policy misstep—it’s a social injustice that will force vulnerable pensioners deeper into financial hardship. The implications for our community are staggering, with increased demand for warm spaces, food banks, and support services inevitable.”
Cllr Count said the decision on Winter Fuel Payments had drawn sharp criticism from respected organizations, including Age UK and the Countryside Alliance, all of which highlight the significant health risks and social injustices this policy change poses for older residents.
He said the Conservative group on Cambridgeshire County Council strongly believes that the Winter Fuel Payment is a vital lifeline for many older individuals and that limiting access to it endangers lives during the coldest months of the year.
In light of these “troubling developments”, he said, he was putting forward the motion for the county council to consider.
“We must not allow the most vulnerable in our community to be disregarded and left without essential support during the winter months,” he added.
“The Conservative group will continue to advocate fiercely for our pensioners and work tirelessly to ensure they are protected from fuel poverty.”
