Government Wins Vote on Winter Fuel.

The government's move to stop winter fuel payments for pensioners was won last night. The vote was carried and Labour's plan to stop winter fuel allowance for OAPs will go ahead. Many pensioners now will be afraid to turn on their heating this winter. A question as they say of "eating or heating". If I were an OAP it might be a good idea to buy or get out your woolies or blankets. In 2024 pensioners who have paid into the country for years should not have to live like this. If the richest of pensioners with private pensions are hit that's fair enough. But the poorest pensioners amongst us should not have to suffer like this. But that's how the government have made it or played it.

52 Labour MPs refused to support the bill. John McDonnell (former shadow chancellor under Jeremy Corbyn), Zarah Sultana, Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, and Apsana Begum opposed the bill. Rebecca Long-Bailey and Imran Hussain abstained.

Many MPs Labour, Conservative, Lib Dems, Reform, SNP, and others mostly opposed it. The Tories have disputed the so-called black hole found in the finances as Labour inherited the economy. The Tories have said it is unfair to blame them but the question has to be asked, who was in control before Labour, the Tories! Labour is right to point out the disaster the UK finds itself in, however, opponents of the Starmer government would say they would blame the previous administration anyway!

Starmer from the outset of his premiership said his government would be a government of service. However, he also pointed out that tough decisions would have to be made and it would be tough going. However, like the Tories before him, he said in a recent speech that there is light at the end of this long and winding tunnel. Many await, some with fear, of Rachel Reeves's budget in November. Liz Kendall the government Work and Pensions Secretary announced: "We must fix the foundations of our economy" and "when money is tight" tough decisions have to be made. Liz is starting to echo the words of former chancellor Jeremy Hunt. Certainly, any comparison to the Sunak administration will alarm the Labour administration or will it?

People who voted for Labour in the election this year expected something different. Certainly, something different from the 14 years of Tory austerity. Never did they think there would be austerity-like cuts from Labour such as cutting benefits.

It's fair to say that if the electorate listened to what Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves, and others were saying, this indeed, would be the case. Of course, voters would want something different to the previous Tory one. They have every right to expect something different from a party that is going to replace the failed 14 years of Tory rule. Of course, if the voters expected miracles overnight Starmer has made it plain that isn't how it's going to happen. Governments of whatever hue, will do things people hate. Just as they will do things that help people. All these things like everything else in the universe will be a balance.

Keir Starmer has 5 years to get things right. Whether he fulfils his promise of light at the end of this metaphorical tunnel will remain to be seen. It may take more than 5 years to fix the foundations as Sir Keir has stated. However, if people lose patience with the fixing of the UK's house Labour may not get another shot at being in government. Reform, Lib Dems, and Conservatives (if anyone is dumb enough to put them back in power) are waiting in the wings.

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