Conservative Councillors on Milton Keynes City Council have thrown their full support behind a motion calling for the suspension and urgent review of the recent cuts to Winter Fuel Payments. These changes, introduced by the Labour Government, will see 90% of pensioners aged 66–79 lose out on vital support, with the average pensioner facing a loss of up to £300 per year.
This decision will directly impact nearly 33,000 pensioners in Milton Keynes, many of whom are already grappling with rising living costs. The motion, tabled at last night’s Full Council meeting, called for the Labour Government to pause and review the changes, introduce a new threshold for eligibility, and sought formal support from Milton Keynes’ three MPs to stop the cuts.
The Labour Group refused to support the motion and voted against it. This refusal to act has left vulnerable pensioners in Milton Keynes exposed to further financial strain.
Speaking in favour of the motion, Conservative Group Leader Cllr Shazna Muzammil said:
"This is about dignity, respect, and the right to live without fear of financial hardship. Our pensioners deserve better than this Labour Government’s appalling decision to strip away Winter Fuel Payments.
The 3 Labour MPs voted in parliament to cut these vital payments, abandoning pensioners who built this country. Now, Labour councillors are compounding this betrayal by refusing to take pertinent action to protect those most at risk. It’s disgraceful.
This is not about politics; it’s about ensuring our elderly population—many on fixed incomes—don’t have to make the heart-wrenching choice between heating and eating. Labour’s inaction will force many into cold homes and could have catastrophic consequences for their health, placing even more pressure on an already overstretched NHS."
Cllr Shazna Muzammil also called out the Labour Government for creating a "fictional black hole" in the economy to justify their cuts:
"Labour’s so-called savings come at the expense of the most vulnerable. They’ve handed out inflation-busting, unfunded pay rises to union allies, leaving pensioners to foot the bill. Even Unite, one of Labour’s largest union backers, has launched a judicial review against this government. That speaks volumes."
"This isn’t just a policy failure—it’s a moral failing,"
Cllr Shazna Muzammil concluded:
"Labour is turning its back on pensioners while Conservatives will continue to stand up for our elderly residents, who have worked hard all their lives and deserve to live with dignity—not in fear of how they’ll heat their homes this winter."
