The new Government's recent decisions are troubling on multiple fronts. Firstly, they have cut the Winter Fuel Payment for around 10 million pensioners, representing losses of up to £300 for the people affected by this policy.
This is wrong, and a total departure from the previous Government’s position that all pensioners must be afforded dignity and respect in retirement, leading me to have deep concerns about the Government’s future plans for pensioners.
The last Government successfully delivered around 11.9 million Winter Fuel Payments and Pensioner Cost of Living Payments to older people across the UK in December 2023.
Being an MP in a constituency which has a sizable pensioner population, I am against this decision. It has been a long-standing challenge to ensure everyone entitled claims Pension Credit. It is now more important than ever that we raise awareness amongst our friends, family and community members.
I know how it will impact so many pensioners across the country. I think it is clear to all of us that cutting much needed winter fuel payments to pensioners is the wrong choice of the new government.
At the same time, new housing targets have been set in a way that seem completely out of touch with local realities.
Angela Rayner's new planning rules aim for 1.5 million homes by 2029, but the targets have been wrongly distributed across the country.
In our area, Rother District's target jumped from 727 to 880 annually. Keep in mind an average of 281 homes were completed per year from 2020 to 2023. This new target isn't realistic and will let developers run wild when it isn't met. 83% of the land is designated as Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). An unadjusted national target was never going to fit for us.
On this, Councillor John Barnes, MBE, commented: “Even if we urgently redouble our search for sites and think about one new village, I do not see how this is do-able, even were the building industry and housing associations able to build at that rate… The threat to the AONB is very real and the Government needs to be forced to consider whether the land supply formula needs to be altered for areas like ours where more than four fifths of the area is protected.”
In contrast, London's housing target was cut by 20% despite a severe shortage and skyrocketing prices. In the North East, where demand is low, Redcar's target rise by 1,337% and Blackpool's by 330%. Our neighbours in Hastings will see their target rise from 490 to 722.
Re-designating parts of the green belt land as "grey belt" also threatens vital protections against urban sprawl. I suspect they are choosing to build new homes in these areas because it is an easier way for the Government to meet targets rather than people’s needs.
Local councils lack the support needed to meet these unrealistic targets. Building in low-demand areas could depress house prices and strain local economies. A balanced approach that protects the environment and meets genuine housing needs is crucial.
Both decisions show a government that’s prioritising numbers over people’s actual needs. We need to push back and demand a more thoughtful and informed approach to these issues.
