Lee Anderson blasts Angela Rayner over 'pensioner deaths' due to axed winter fuel payments

Conservative Deputy Chairman Lee Anderson has launched a scathing attack on Labour’s Deputy Leader Angela Rayner, accusing her of hypocrisy over the issue of Winter Fuel Payments.

Anderson’s criticism came after he resurfaced Labour’s claims from the 2017 general election, where the party warned that means-testing the Winter Fuel Payment could lead to thousands of additional pensioner deaths.

In a tweet, Anderson highlighted Labour’s stark prediction from 2017, stating: “During the 2017 election Labour said that means testing the Winter Fuel Payment would lead to an extra 3,850 pensioner deaths.”

Accompanying his tweet was a map depicting the number of people who stand to lose their Winter Fuel Payments under current constituency boundaries, showing the widespread impact across the UK.

The map, color-coded to show varying levels of impact, highlighted significant areas in Scotland and Northern England where pensioners could lose access to these crucial payments.

The darker the shade, the more individuals are affected, with some areas showing more than 22,000 people potentially losing their benefits.

This issue harks back to the 2017 general election when Labour vehemently opposed a proposal by then-Prime Minister Theresa May to introduce means-testing for Winter Fuel Payments.

At the time, Labour argued that such a policy would strip millions of pensioners of essential financial support, increasing their risk of suffering cold-related illnesses and even death.

Angela Rayner was one of the most vocal critics of the proposal. During the campaign, she challenged May directly, asking if the PM would confirm that 10 million pensioners were set to lose their winter fuel payments if the Tories were re-elected.

Labour’s position was clear: the proposed means-testing could be catastrophic for vulnerable elderly citizens, potentially leading to what they estimated as 3,850 additional deaths.

Winter Fuel Payments have long been a lifeline for pensioners in the UK, particularly for those on fixed incomes who struggle to cover the costs of heating during the coldest months.

The payments are seen as crucial in preventing cold-related health issues, which can be fatal for older adults. The debate over whether these payments should be means-tested has been a contentious one, with both sides offering starkly different views on the potential consequences.