Tory councillor Steve Count – and leader of the opposition at Cambridgeshire County Council – was accused today of “playing politics over the serious issue of pensioner poverty”. The accusation came from Cllr Richard Howitt, deputy leader of the county council Labour group.
Cllr Howitt says Cllr Count has been forced into a “humiliating U-turn” by withdrawing a motion on the Winter Fuel Allowance.
He accused the Tory leader of being “guilty of short-term political opportunism of the worst kind.
“The fact that they have chosen to withdraw the resolution, shows that it is the Conservative Party in Cambridgeshire which does not want their record or their fitness for office to be scrutinised.”
The row was sparked by a motion originally submitted by Cllr Count for tomorrow’s (Tuesday) full council meeting in which he called for the county council to respond to the Labour government’s decision to scrap the Winter Fuel Allowance for pensioners.
He said 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’”.
But Cllr Count has pulled the motion after a Labour-led amendment which, according to Cllr Howitt, focused on what Cambridgeshire County Council could do to assist elderly people at risk of losing the allowance, as well as highlighting the financial shortfall left by the previous Conservative Government which led to the national decision
Cllr Howitt, who was due to present the amendment, said: “Conservative county councillors have been exposed for mis-using the county council by seeking to put a resolution which was nothing more than ‘playing politics’ over the serious issue of pensioner poverty.
“The Labour-led amendment would have put the needs of the local elderly population first, focused on what the council can actually do to assist in practical terms, as well as balancing proper questions of the new Government with the equally proper context of the financial black hole left by the Conservatives.
“The humiliating U-turn shows Conservatives guilty of short-term political opportunism of the worst kind.
“The fact that they have chosen to withdraw the resolution, shows that it is the Conservative Party in Cambridgeshire which does not want their record or their fitness for office to be scrutinised.”
Cllr Count hit back and in angry letter to chief executive Stephen Moir said his officers “took a lot of time and effort and using their best professional judgement, constructed a motion to seek support in raising awareness of the availability of Pension Credit for some pensioners.
“In seeking support, we tried our best to de-politicise the motion, the only political reference I can see is correctly identifying the Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeve as the decision maker.
“Trying to improve outcomes remains more important to us, than the political messaging, which is more appropriate when reserved for election leaflets.”
Cllr Count added: “I was therefore shocked, saddened and dismayed by the amendment put forward by Labour councillor Richard Howitt.
“Shocked at the way he had butchered a well-intentioned motion and put party politics ahead of poor pensioners.
“Saddened to know that Labour’s partnership with the Liberal Democrats ensured the amended motion would be passed.
“Dismayed that the council would allow such partisan, inflammatory, political messaging to be published. I had believed as an organisation and its councillors as individuals were better than that.”
Cllr Count said the amendment had left him with no option but to withdraw the motion, “so that the council can avoid being forced by the Joint Administration to publish such politically biased messaging.
“I can only ask a small personal favour, as I am sure you share my concerns for our most vulnerable residents, and the impacts on their lives and ultimately our services the removal of the winter fuel allowance has for many.
“That favour is to use your powers of personal influence with any members of the Liberal Democrat – Labour alliance that still retain some sense of humanity and dignity, to bring forward an awareness campaign to help secure pension credit for those poor pensioners that are eligible.
“For your information I will be sharing this communication with the public as they need to understand why we were forced to remove the motion, but still hope the major actions could be pursued.”
Cllr Count’s original motion 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 wanted the council to:
1: Run a 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: Require 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”.
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.
“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.”
