Labour councillors defended the government’s cut to pensioners’ winter fuel payments in a debate on the controversial move.
A full council meeting heard accusations over which party was to blame for the loss of cold weather payments of up to £300.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Labour MP for West Leeds and Pudsey, announced a restriction on the payments to just those on pension credit and certain other benefits.
The city’s controlling Labour group defeated calls for outright opposition to the move in a debate on Wednesday 11 September. Alan Lamb, Leeds Conservative leader, said Labour’s own figures showed 4,000 older people could die as a result of the cut.
He tabled a motion which said: “The council believes the pensioners’ winter fuel allowance is an invaluable lifeline to thousands of older people in Leeds at risk of not being able to heat their homes.”
Alwoodley Conservative Lyn Buckley said it would have been simpler for Labour to maintain the winter payments. She told the meeting: “After only weeks in power the Labour government has shown its true colours.”
The Labour government has said cutting the payments would save around £1.5bn.
Cllr Buckley added: “Labour has made an active decision to take £1.5bn from vulnerable pensioners.”
Mary Harland, Leeds City Council’s executive member for communities, said the government had been left with a £22bn budget gap by the previous Tory administration.
She said: “The country simply can’t afford to let the economy slide.”
Opposition members disputed the £22bn figure, saying it was partly down to public sector pay rises by the current government.
But Debra Coupar, Labour’s deputy council leader, said: “The coffers are empty following years of economic mismanagement and ill-judged decisions.
“It is not wasted money on public sector pay. It is sorting out the public sector so they can deliver for the people of this country, finally, after 14 years of austerity.”
A Labour amendment to Cllr Lamb’s motion, calling on the government to “maintain the winter fuel payment for those pensioners that need it” was passed at the meeting. It also called for measures to boost home insulation, extend the Warm Homes Discount and tax oil and gas companies.
A Green Party amendment calling for the government to raise the pension credit threshold and introduce a wealth tax was also voted down.
