State pensioners could have energy bills 'frozen' after £300 Winter Fuel Payment cut

The new Labour Party government face pressure to "freeze energy bills" in the wake of the £300 Winter Fuel Payment axe. The leader of the Liberal Democrats has called on Labour Party Chancellor Rachel Reeves to step in over the Ofgem price cap hike coming in January.

Sir Ed Davey explained: "Enough is enough. This further rise in energy prices cannot go ahead. As we enter another cold and difficult winter, many people simply can’t afford to see their heating bills go up yet again. The disastrous Government cuts to the Winter Fuel Payments coupled with this energy price rise will be a hammer blow for millions of vulnerable pensioners this winter.

"The new Government must step in now, cancel this bill rise and reinstate Winter Fuel Payments to stop families and pensioners being left out in the cold this winter. This is a Government that has pledged to bring down energy bills, it is time for them to live up to their word."

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Ranjit Blythe, the managing director of the the UK's biggest gas distribution network Cadent Foundation, said: "It’s a mistake for anyone to think that the cost-of-living crisis is over and we’ve seen, first-hand, through all of our projects, the impact of fuel poverty on the most vulnerable.

"The news of today's price cap changes, preceded by the removal of the Winter Fuel Allowance for many pensioners, could mean that those who may have just about managed last year are now being tipped into fuel poverty. We've witnessed unprecedented demand for support in the last month alone, distributing almost £500,000 of assistance from our Winter Support Fund to the most vulnerable members of society."

Blythe went on: "Our partners have reported high levels of uptake, particularly from those impacted by recent cuts to the Winter Fuel Allowance."