The Labour MP for Loughborough, Jeevun Sandher, has said pensioners in his constituency are not struggling with energy bills.
Speaking on GB News, Jeevun Sandher said:
“Last week, for example, I went door knocking on Friday night to speak to voters. [donations] didn’t come up. The thing that came up were the things that we’re focusing on, right: getting energy bills down with clean energy, GB Energy, our clean energy company.
“They’re banging on about their energy bills and how we’re going to get their energy bills down. I did ask about [the winter fuel allowance cut] actually, and I said, ‘Look, are you struggling with your bills?’ And they said, ‘No’.
“We had to fill in this £22 billion financing gap. I’m completely comfortable and have faith in the decisions that Rachel has made.
“I know how difficult it is and I used to work at the Treasury. I was shocked by what I heard. We’ve means tested the winter fuel allowance. It’s there for the poorest pensioners, for those who get pension credit. It’s just above the threshold they get the household support fund. The state pension went up by £900 last April, £400 the coming April.
“There is enough help there.
“I didn’t say I was happy, I said it’s a serious decision that we have to take at the moment, filling in this gap. I’m saying actually, it’s a very difficult moment before us, the most difficult inheritance since the Second World War.”