Prime Minister’s Questions certainly has not been dull today and Sir Ed Davey called on Labour to make a U-turn on pensioner’s Winter Fuel Payments as millions are affected by the cruel tax.
The Lib Dem leader reminded Labour that from 1 January 2025 Ofgem are raising the energy price cap by 10% which will force many to chose between eating and heating and could cause many deaths this winter.
Sir Ed said, “Millions of people are really worried about how they are going to make ends meet this winter.
“Not least hundreds of thousands of pensioners who are in poverty but above the pension credit limit who will now lose winter fuel payments.
“So, with energy bills going up again will the Prime Minister reconsider and restore winter fuel payments?”
Sir Keir Starmer replied, “The long-term way to deal with this is clean power by 2030 to make sure we drive those energy bills down on a permanent basis.
“On the winter fuel allowance, he knows very well what the Government’s position is and I’ve rehearsed it with him many times.”
Watching PMQs from the public gallery was Roger Daltry from The Who as a guest of the former deputy speaker Nigel Evans.
The SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn questioned the Prime Minister that we are in the middle of the BBC anti-scam week.
Flynn told MPs, “We’re currently in the middle of BBC anti-scam awareness week and of course the advice in that context is always simple: if you see a scam you should report it.
“So with that in mind can the Prime Minister advise the House, is he aware of anyone whose promised to reduce energy bills only for them to increase?
“Is he aware of anyone who promised to back business only to tax business?
“And is he aware of anyone who promised to protect pensioners only to pick their pockets for their winter fuel allowance?”
The Who singer Daltry was then told off by the Speaker of the House Sir Lindsay Hoyle for clapping in response.