Graham has today criticised the Prime Minister's partial U-turn on the controversial winter fuel payment cuts, branding the move "too little, too late" for the thousands of pensioners left in limbo.
Speaking after the Prime Minister signalled a possible revision to the policy at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday 21st May, the campaigning MP welcomed signs of a rethink but expressed serious doubts about the sincerity and scope of the announcement.
The Prime Minister suggested in answer to a question from a Labour MP that he would order his Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, to expand the benefit at a future fiscal event, presumably the Budget in October.
Graham launched a petition opposing the cut earlier this year, which attracted 1,181 signatures from concerned constituents and local residents.
Graham presented the petition, alongside fellow East Riding MPs Charlie Dewhirst and Sir David Davis, to the Prime Minister in November.
The petition called for a reversal of the government's decision to restrict winter fuel payments to pensioners earning less than £11,500 per year—excluding thousands of retirees already struggling with rising living costs.
Graham also arranged two well-attended protests against the government’s decision to restrict the £300 payment to those who are in receipt of Pension Credit – or on less than £219 a week.
Graham said, “The first thing this government did, after waiting fourteen years to come to power, was to scrap the Winter Fuel Payment, a lifeline to so many pensioners.
“This U-turn is not up to much, it appears more like an attempt to satisfy rebellious backbenchers than a proper policy reversal. The government needs to stop dithering and fully restore the winter fuel payments for all those affected.”
“I have always stood by our older residents, they paid in for decades, and now they’re being told they don’t qualify for the support they were promised. Our message is simple: respect our pensioners. Don’t leave them out in the cold.”
“The government has an opportunity to do the right thing. This half-hearted U-turn won’t heat a single home unless it’s followed by concrete action - and fast.”
