Rachel Reeves
Chancellor Rachel Reeves was accused of “sickening hypocrisy” after it emerged she claimed £360 from taxpayers to subsidise her fuel bills immediately before stripping ten million pensioners of winter fuel payments.
Expenses data published by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) shows the Chancellor made four claims for dual fuel bills including gas and electricity for accommodation, covering the period between April 4 2024 and July 4 2024.
She received two payments for £100 and two for £80.58 coming to a total of £361.16 to subsidise heating and hot water.
Ms Reeves then announced on July 29 that the Government was means-testing winter fuel payments of between £200 and £300 which had previously been available to 11.6 million people – so that just 1.5 million were expected to receive the money.
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The cut will save around £1.3 billion this year and £1.5 billion in future years, and Ms Reeves said it was essential to help plug a £22 billion “black hole” in the public finances.
But charities and campaigners representing older people warned it would force some of the most vulnerable people in the country to choose between eating and heating their homes.
Responding to the expenses figures, Reform UK leader said: “Rachel reeves has no self awareness. What an insult to pensioners”.
Dennis Reed, director of campaigning group Silver Voices, said: ““It’s sickening hypocrisy. Just before she knew that she was going to come out with this very controversial policy of stripping ten million pensioners of , she claimed for her own expenses of gas and electricity.
“It will go down like a lead balloon with all those older people who can’t afford to put their heating on this winter.
“It’s complete double standards.”
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All the payments were within Parliamentary rules as MPs representing constituencies outside London are allowed to claim financial support for the cost of having two homes. The Chancellor needs to commute frequently between her Leeds constituency and London.
The IPSA figures also show that Ms Reeves claimed £1,729 for gas and electricity at an office.
Meanwhile Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, given the task of overseeing the cut, claimed £1,015 between April and September for gas and fuel bills at her own accommodation.
Campaigners say the Government has introduced a series of measures targeting the elderly, including refusing to provide compensation to “WASPI” women hit by age increases.
Eamonn Donaghy, Chief Executive Officer of the National Federation of Occupational Pensioners and a spokesperson for Later Life Ambitions, commented: “Labour was elected to government on a platform of change. Sadly, the only change older people have come to expect since last July is change for the worse.
“The scrapping of the for all and the refusal to extend the application deadline for Pension Credit presented a disappointing direction from the Government.
“So too did its decision to maintain the freeze on tax thresholds. By keeping the threshold so close to the rate without any relief, this policy has only served to plunge millions of pensioners deeper into poverty.
“More recently, we’ve seen the Government swat away the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s call for compensation for the Waspi women.
“Labour faces irreparably damaging its relationship with older people – many of whom voted for the party at the last election. To avoid this breakdown, we urge the Government to assuage pensioners’ doubts and reaffirm its commitment to the . Enough change – let’s see No. 10 deliver on the promise.”