Words by Ed King
According to official Westminster sources, Erdington MP Paulette Hamilton has ‘no vote recorded’ over the plans to block contentious cuts to the winter fuel allowance – which would affect approximately 10 million pensioners across the UK.
After a motion to annul the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024 was brought to the House by the Conservative Party, all Labour MPs were expected to follow the party line and support the proposed cuts – with a vote against the motion to be held on Tuesday 10 September.
But with ‘no vote recorded’ against Ms Hamilton after a heated debate and subsequent ballot in the House of Commons earlier today, this makes the Erdington MP one of 53 Labour MPs across the country who did not succumb to the party whip.
Following the Chancellor’s announcement in July that a £22bn “black hole” in public finances would see the winter fuel allowance become means tested, the proposed cuts received significant backslash – with many arguing it would put the burden of the country’s finances on the most vulnerable, instead of addressing tax reforms to recoup the deficit.
Looking to push through the changes without a vote in the House, Prime Minister and Labour Party Leader Sir Keir Starmer had previously suspended seven ‘rebel’ MPs who initially stood against the Government on the two-child benefit cap – showing a hard line approach to any internal party opposition.
However, following a challenge from the Conservatives to scrap the proposed cuts a vote was scheduled for Tuesday 10 September – with 348 MPs voting against the motion to annul the changes, and 228 backing it.
72 MPs were identified as having ‘no vote recorded’, effectively abstaining from the vote, 52 of which were Labour Members of Parliament – going directly against the Government’s calls for party unity on the issue.
Labour MP for Normanton and Hemsworth, Jon Trickett, voted in favour of the motion to annul the Government’s proposals to the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment.
Other Midlands MPs with ‘no vote recorded’ in the Commons today are Tahir Ali (Hall Green and Moseley, Labour), Cat Eccles (Stourbridge, Labour), and Sarah Edwards (Tamworth, Labour).
In statement to Erdington Local, Ms Hamilton MP told: “I recognise concerns about the recent changes the Chancellor has made to the Winter Fuel Payments Scheme and that’s why I met with Age UK in July to hear about these directly.
“The new Government is having to make really tough decisions, after our economy was wrecked by the last Government, who left a £22bn black hole in the public finances.”
She added: “I know that people in Erdington, Kingstanding, Castle Vale and South Oscott will be feeling worried about this decision, especially in the run up to winter and I want to assure them that I will continue to put pressure on people in my party to protect the most vulnerable in society and explore alternative means through which to reduce the deficit.”
Birmingham Conservatives Leader and Erdington Ward Councillor Robert Alden told: “This decision by the Labour Government will be devastating for thousands of pensioners across Erdington Constituency.
“It is estimated that over 11,000 pensioners in Erdington Constituency and over 117,000 across the City of Birmingham, will have their winter fuel allowance removed just as the cold weather approaches.
“Labour has, for years, said these payments were vital for saving lives, yet within weeks of being elected they are slashing these very payments.”
Cllr Alden added: “The reality is this cut to the Winter Fuel Allowance is a direct attack on low income pensioners across Erdington and Birmingham. Labour is forcing them to choose between heating their homes and putting food on the table – which Labour’s own research has said will potentially kill 4000 people.
“This isn’t fiscal responsibility—it’s cruel and unnecessary and Labour MPs should have backed the Conservative oppositions motion to stop these cuts.”