A gaggle of Labour MPs were adopted as AgeUK champions after voting to cut Winter Fuel Payments for 10 million pensioners, a GB News report has revealed.
AgeUK, which launched a petition to maintain the pensioner perk this winter, listed 58 MPs as part of the charity’s champions in Westminster.
However, Brent West MP Barry Gardiner, Dagenham & Rainham MP Margaret Mullane, Coatbridge & Bellshill MP Frank McNally, Sheffield Hallam MP Olivia Blake, Rotherham MP Sarah Champion, Leeds North East MP Fabian Hamilton, Leeds South West & Morley MP Mark Sewards, Sheffield South MP Clive Betts and Widnes & Halewood MP Derek Twigg voted to axe Winter Fuel Payments last month.
Other Labour MPs abstained on the controversial motion, including Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn.
Local residents have received emails from AgeUK confirming which MPs have signed up to become champions at the charity.
After one person raised concerns with AgeUK about the apparent hypocrisy, the charity replied: “Your MP voted for the change to the Winter Fuel Payment.
“Although you might be disappointed by this, with a strong majority and the threat of losing the whip, some MPs felt they had to vote with the Government in order to stay in the party and therefore be able to influence policy change.”
AgeUK were unable to offer further clarification after being approached by GB News.
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The People’s Channel also did not receive a reply from Sewards after seeing an email sent to one of his constituents in Leeds South West & Morley.
Commenting on GB News’ exposé, Patrick Christys said: “You’re elderly constituents needed you and you failed them.”
Christys, who accused the group of MPs of “charity-washing”, added: “In my view, you are weak, you are pathetic and you should be ashamed of yourselves.”
Sir Keir Starmer defended his decision to axe Winter Fuel Payments last month ahead of losing a conference vote on the controversial policy.
Sir Keir Starmer
PA
Speaking in his keynote speech in Liverpool, the Prime Minister said: “If you can’t take that on faith, perhaps because you’re concerned about the Winter Fuel allowance, then I get that
“As I say, if this path were popular or easy we would have walked it already.
“But the risk of showing to the world – as the Tories did – that this country does not fund its policies properly; that is a risk we can never take again.
“Stabilising our economy is the first step of this long-term plan.
“The only way we keep prices low, cut NHS waiting lists, and secure the triple lock so that every pensioner in this country – every pensioner – will be better off with Labour.”
