Winter fuel cuts are 'a bitter pill to swallow'

Alan Rowe held the Falmouth Penwerrris seat for Labour despite backlash over the winter fuel cuts

The government's cuts to the winter fuel allowance have not been communicated properly, a newly elected Labour councillor has said.

Alan Rowe held the Cornwall Council division of Falmouth Penwerris with a reduced majority for Labour after a by-election held on Thursday.

He said the decision to means test the benefit was one of the main issues of voters who did not back him.

The government has said changes to winter fuel payment are needed to balance the nation's finances, with those most in need still set to receive support.

'People were upset'

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Jayne Kirkham from the council, who became the new MP for Truro and Falmouth at the general election.

Labour won 337 votes in the by-election, with the Liberal Democrats taking 228 and the Green Party securing 189.

Labour's share of the vote dropped by 20% from 2021.

Councillor Rowe, who is also the Mayor of Falmouth, said there was "a lot of feedback" about the winter fuel allowance during the campaign.

"A lot of people were upset with that decision - pensioners and younger people," he added.

Awareness campaign

He supported the decision to means test the benefit but criticised the way the government communicated it.

"If you're a millionaire, you're getting your winter fuel allowance, which doesn't seem right to me," he said.

"Many pensioners were receiving it who didn't really need it.

"It's a bitter pill to swallow for people - I don't think communications around this policy are very good, so people don't really understand there will be benefit for those people in need."

A motion calling for Cornwall Council to start an awareness campaign for pensioners to check if they are eligible for pension credit will be debated next week. Those eligible for pension credit will still receive the winter fuel allowance.

The BBC has contacted the government for further comment.