NEWS: Erdington MP goes against party line with ‘no vote recorded’ on motion to block cuts to winter fuel allowance

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.”

NEWS: Erdington’s top politicians push for Brexit deal in support of local industry

Words by Ed King

As MPs across the country prepare to vote on the Brexit trade deal, Erdington’s top politicians both agree that a no-deal exit from the European Union (EU) would be disastrous for local industry.

Crossing the aisle in support of the UK’s business community, MP for Erdington Jack Dromey (Labour) and Erdington ward Councillor Robert Alden (Conservative) agree that the current deal, recently secured by Boris Johnson, is the best way to see in the New Year.

Although still divided by party lines, Erdington’s red and blue leaders have come out in public support of the offer negotiated from Brussels – urging the potential rebels in Westminster to push forward and vote ‘yes’ in the House of Commons on 30th December.

Jack Dromey MP for Erdington said: “We are now left with a very clear choice – the deal that has been agreed or a no deal Brexit.

“Throughout the Brexit process, I have been in intensive dialogue with leading figures from across the world of work. On the eve of the historic Brexit vote, their message is clear – vote for the deal or risk plunging British manufacturing into an unprecedented crisis.”

Quick to recognise the Prime Minister’s role in securing a deal, a diplomatic achievement many thought impossible, Cllr Alden – who is also leader of the Birmingham Conservatives – told Erdington Local:

“With Boris Johnson securing the deal others said he could not and Keir Starmer announcing Labour would vote for the deal without having seen it, Brexit is finally set to be delivered.

“All the wards in Erdington voted to leave the EU and Boris Johnson has delivered the wishes of Erdington constituency, despite repeated attempts by Labour MP’s and others to prevent the will of the people being enacted.

“What is vital now is to maximise the opportunities Brexit can offer the country and our region: the chance to strike trade deals across the world, to control our borders, to deliver world leading environmental protections, and locally the opportunity to use trade deals to regenerate our economy and deliver well paid jobs for local residents, lifting the average wage of Birmingham residents. 

Cllr Alden, who holds the Erdington ward office along with Cllr Gareth Moore, further recognised the potential growth on the horizon if the trade agreement successfully passes.

He added: “The freedoms the deal provides the country need to be used to provide investment into a gigafactory and the car industry, to support jobs in Jaguar/Land Rover and the supply chain, allowing them to modernise and grow.

“I urge the Government to ignore the City Council, who voted for gigafactories to be built in other regions instead, and to invest in Birmingham.”

MP for an area that voted to leave the EU in the June 2016 referendum, Jack Dromey has perhaps more friction within his party than in his constituency – with many Labour MPs urging Sir Keir Starmer to stymy the Johnson secured deal.

He added: “Since the British people decided that we were to leave the European Union in 2016, I have been unequivocal that a no deal Brexit would be a betrayal of the British national interest.

“This deal is far from perfect, and there are many aspects that we need to build upon at the next stages. But the alternative, a no deal and trading on WTO terms, would be a disaster for Britain’s manufacturing industry.

“So, I would urge all Members of Parliament to listen to the workers voice and vote for the Brexit deal. British manufacturing is counting on it.”

MPs will gather in the House of Commons to vote on the Brexit deal on 30th December, having been recalled from their winter break for the historic trade agreement.

Debates will start at 9:30am and are expected to continue until the afternoon, after which the bill will be moved to the House of Lords.

If successful, the Brexit trade deal could receive royal assent by morning on New Year’s Eve 2020.

For more on Brexit/Britain’s exit from the European Union, visit www.gov.uk/transition