I am deeply opposed to the Conservative manifesto pledges to abolish winter fuel payments for “better off pensioners” and universally provided free school meals saying these plans will hit pensioners and families alike.

Winter fuel payment plans

These Tory manifesto proposals represent a clear and present danger to the incomes of thousands of pensioners in Wolverhampton South East.. If the Conservatives restrict Winter Fuel Payments to pensioners receiving Pension credit, that would mean over 11,200 pensioners in the constituency would be hit. This is a direct attack on the incomes of local pensioners, many of whom are certainly not well off. The winter fuel payments pensioners receive are vital in helping to pay energy bills at what can be a very expensive time of year. I am deeply opposed to this Tory threat to the incomes of thousands of pensioners in Wolverhampton South East.
 
Free school meals for early years children

We all know the importance of a good meal for focussed learning and concentration in class. The growth of free school meals for the youngest children has also been an important financial help to young families in recent years. The Conservatives’ plans will make it harder for children and families. And their proposals to replace free school meals with free breakfasts have already been criticised for being hopelessly under-funded, if these plans go ahead, over 8742 children in Wolverhampton will lose their lunches.

Taken together, these plans for pensioners and families are bad news for people in Wolverhampton South East.
 
Also to note, there are currently 15,710 pensioners in Wolverhampton South East. Of those, 4,450 receive pension credit and 11,260 do not. This means that if Winter Fuel Payments were restricted to pensioners on pension credit -; the lowest income pensioners, 11,260 pensioners in Wolverhampton South East would stop receiving the payments. That is 72% of the pensioners in the constituency.  Winter fuel payments are £200 for pensioners under the age of 80 and £300 over the age of 80.