Pensioners will die because of winter fuel payments cut, warns Labour rebel

Rachael Maskell says being more exposed to low temperatures could increase risk of stroke, heart attacks and hypothermia

Pensioners will die from the cold if the Treasury pushes ahead with its winter fuel payments cut, a Labour rebel has warned.
Writing for The Telegraph, Rachael Maskell said being more exposed to low temperatures could increase risk of stroke, heart attacks, pneumonia and hypothermia.
Her warning came amid growing unrest among some Labour MPs over Rachel Reeves’ decision to stop giving winter fuel payments to all pensioners in order to help fill a “black hole” in the public finances. 
Only those who claim pension credit will get the payments, of between £200 and £300, meaning roughly 10 million will lose them.
More than a dozen Labour MPs have voiced concerns, with Sir Keir Starmer potentially facing a rebellion at a crunch vote scheduled to take place on Tuesday.
Ms Maskell, the MP for York Central, warned of the public health impact of ending universal winter fuel payments, saying: “We know that being cold leads to stroke, heart attacks, pneumonia, hyperthermia and so much more as the body wrestles to keep warm, and viruses prey on the frail.
“The concern that I and many colleagues have is that people will fall through the safety net. Last winter, 4,950 people died because their homes were cold, according to research by UCL and the Institute of Health Equity based on data from the Office for National Statistics, where 21.5 per cent of excess winter deaths are attributed to cold homes.
“The fear is that, if we withdraw winter fuel payments for those in fuel poverty, it will lead to excess deaths.”
Ms Maskell, who has for years chaired the all-party parliamentary group on ageing and older people, said some of her constituents were “frightened” and “in tears” over the policy.
Other Labour critics have made similar points, with Diane Abbott tweeting on Thursday: “Cutting winter fuel payments for pensioners is appalling. Old people will freeze this winter as a result.”
A third Labour rebel told The Telegraph nothing short of  “a complete U-turn” would be accepted adding: “No one is saying this whole spending black hole can be wished away – but the money must come from the right people. Those pensioners aren’t the right people.”
An analysis by a pensions firm found this week that five out of six pensioners living in poverty are set to lose their winter fuel payments.
Ed Balls, a former Labour shadow chancellor, warned on Thursday that Ms Reeves needed an “escape route” from the policy before her Budget on Oct 31.
Speaking on his Political Currency podcast, he said: “They need to find a creative way to do what they said they were going to do – close the in-year black hole – and find an alternative way to do it, which could either be modifying what they’re doing on the winter allowance or finding some other way to close the black hole. I would be thinking creatively.”
He added of Ms Reeves: “I think she will have been given a list of things and told she has to do one of them – and I think she’s probably, in retrospect, quite annoyed at the Treasury for pushing her into an immediate decision like this.
“She may have felt, in retrospect, it was bad advice. And she’ll be acutely aware of the politics, because the reality is this isn’t just a storm in a teacup. This is one of those big cut-through issues, which has real momentum. It unites the Left and the Right.”
However, government figures close to the policy insisted there would be no about-turn, with one saying it was a “done deal”. Insiders have argued that state pension increases because of the triple lock – which guarantees it rises by the highest of prices, wages or 2.5 per cent – have made the winter fuel payments less significant over the years.
On Wednesday, it was reported that the state pension is set to rise by more than £400 next year. The same day, Sir Keir Starmer defended scrapping winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners, saying the Government had to “take tough decisions to stabilise the economy”.
Wes Streeting’s first words in Government was to state that “the NHS is broken” – and it is, writes Rachael Maskell. 
With an all year round winter crisis, it has suffered from years of neglect. He has rightly identified the cure – prevention. We know the best way to protect the NHS is to protect the health of people, not least the old and frail. 
The work of Prof Sir Michael Marmot and Prof Sir Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer, has highlighted why tackling the social determinants of poor health is our route out of this crisis. We must draw on their considerable expertise and heed their warnings.
We know that being cold leads to stroke, heart attacks, pneumonia, hyperthermia and so much more as the body wrestles to keep warm, and viruses prey on the frail.
The epidemiological data drawn from Covid is a recent reminder as to why we need to protect those with comorbidities, a feature of old age, and those with complex needs. If cold and old, our resilience falls.
The UK Health Security Agency has said that the indoor temperature should not drop below 18C. As our short summer turns to autumn again, those who are able to are already reaching for the heating switch.
From Oct 1, we will see our energy costs rise again by 10 per cent, averaging £1,717 a year, but for most this year without the protection of winter fuel payments. 
When the payments were introduced by Gordon Brown as chancellor, he said he was “simply not prepared to allow another winter to go by when pensioners are fearful of turning up their heating, even on the coldest winter days”. That fear has now returned.
MPs are hearing from pensioners in their constituencies that they are going through their budgets and the sums are simply not adding up. In my constituency, rents have risen by 11.9 per cent, £382 above the state pension. Many are frightened. Some are in tears.
Liz Kendall, as Work and Pensions Secretary, is on a mission to raise the sign-up for pension credit from 63 per cent, as it is today, so that 880,000 eligible pensioners can unlock vital financial support this winter as well as a range of other benefits.
But local authorities and charities are sceptical about the time left to reach those in need. The application form has 243 questions, which takes time, not least if you have dementia. 
Some have voiced their view that a delay to the policy is the only solution this year to prevent those who would qualify for the means-tested support from falling through the gaps. Even if this were to be achieved, there are around one million pensioners who will be in fuel poverty this winter without necessary mitigation to keep warm.
Those just above the pension credit threshold will end up worse off than those who qualify. Without tapering, the cliff edge of pension credit is a blunt instrument for those who have worked hard and saved yet live on the poverty line.
The announcement of the extension to the Housing Support Fund came with huge relief, meaning local authorities can create warm spaces and target their support at those in greatest need.
However, the concern that I and many colleagues have is that people will fall through the safety net. Last winter, 4,950 people died because their homes were cold, according to research by UCL and the Institute of Health Equity based on data from the Office for National Statistics, where 21.5 per cent of excess winter deaths are attributed to cold homes.
The fear is that, if we withdraw winter fuel payments for those in fuel poverty, it will lead to excess deaths.
It is these facts, and the compassion of MPs for their constituents, which are telling us we need more mitigation before the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024 are debated in the Commons next Tuesday.
I am holding a debate that morning to highlight the importance of taking a public health approach. I am trusting that Labour is reflecting hard on the steps it can take to give an assurance as to how our pensioners can stay warm and well this winter.
Rachael Maskell is the Labour MP for York Central