Boos for the government over a ‘delay’ on the winter fuel payment vote
There were boos for the government over a ‘delay’ on the winter fuel payment vote at Labour’s party conference in Liverpool – not a good start for a brand-new administration.
Unions had demanded a vote today (Monday, September 23, 2024) along with a debate, to ascertain whether the wider Labour movement agrees with the government over its decision to take winter fuel payments away from 10 million pensioners.
The delay comes across as blatant stage-management by the Labour leadership, to prevent an event that could disrupt the triumphalism of a newly-elected government at its conference – and the unions aren’t happy, according to the BBC.
It reports:
Some unions have expressed anger and one union source says that “it’s an attempt to silence union voices on the matter” – and some wonder if the vote will actually take place at all.
Mick Whelan, boss of rail union Aslef, said: “We are disappointing that this motion has been moved and we don’t understand why.”
United general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Right now it is fair to say that the Labour leaders have tried to silence the voice of pensioners, workers and communities at party conference, in this blatant manoeuvre to block debate on winter fuel cuts and the departure towards Austerity Mark 2.
“When this becomes widely known there will be real anger among everyday people. Real Anger.”
It’s being suggested that a vote will take place – at the very end of the conference on Wednesday, as it is being wound up – and, presumably, everybody is going home.
Doesn’t that seem an obvious move by party bosses to minimise not only interest in the vote but public knowledge of it?
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So much for
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