Support for Pensioners
Debate between Harriett Baldwin and Blake Stephenson(2 weeks, 1 day ago)
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Blake Stephenson (Mid Bedfordshire) (Con)
I beg to move,
That this House has considered Government support for pensioners.
It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dame Siobhain. I have secured this debate because not only do pensioners represent an enormous portion of our population—over 10 million people—but the way we support them impacts every single person in this country.
From the start to the end of our careers, we should all aspire to a comfortable retirement for ourselves and our loved ones. I know the Government understand that, because before the election they made big pitches to pensioners. The now Work and Pensions Secretary said:
“Labour are determined to once again be the Pensioners Party.”
The now Prime Minister said:
“My Labour Party will always be on the side of pensioners”.
Members may recall that Labour’s manifesto featured the heartbreaking story of Gary, a pensioner who was struggling to heat his house on his pension. I feel immensely for people like Gary, who have struggled when times were really tough, and who voted with hope for a Government that they believed would reduce their energy bills and look after vulnerable pensioners.
Dame Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con)
I congratulate my hon. Friend on the excellent speech that he is making. Only today I heard from a pensioner in West Worcestershire on an income of £13,500 who was stripped of his winter fuel allowance last year. He is having to live in only one room, as that is all he can afford to heat. Is my hon. Friend as shocked as I was to hear that example?
Blake Stephenson
I am absolutely shocked, and I will come on to mention a few stories from my own constituents. They are very similar, and I think we are hearing these stories up and down the country.