MPs claim expenses for heating while cutting pensioners’ fuel payments

Rachel Reeves defended her decision to claim thousands in expenses for heating her second home while cutting winter fuel payments for pensioners.

Official records reveal the Chancellor has claimed £3,700 over the past five years for energy bills at her Leeds constituency home.

Her move to means-test the winter fuel payment, affecting 10 million pensioners who will lose up to £300 annually, has sparked significant criticism.

Ms Reeves, earning £158,851, told GB News: ‘I understand I earn more than average families in Britain, but I aim to protect the most vulnerable, which is why pensioners on pension credit will still receive the winter fuel payment.’

Addressing her own expenses, she added: ‘Being a constituency MP requires a home in London and in the constituency, which applies to all MPs. These rules have been long established. I am committed to ensuring the poorest pensioners are protected and will continue to receive winter fuel payments, and to maintaining the triple lock on pension incomes.’

Simon Francis of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition commented: ‘While MPs heat their homes at public expense, pensioners face a very different reality this winter. Labour MPs should consider finding savings closer to home rather than taking from pensioners.’

Earlier reports indicated that eleven members of Sir Keir Starmer’s Cabinet claimed substantial expenses for heating their second homes while cutting winter fuel payments for ten million pensioners.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, whose department denies the fuel payments to the elderly, claimed £1,284 for energy bills in 2021-22 and £2,400 last year. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband’s claims increased from £650 to £1,100, while Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson’s rose from £1,052 to £1,896.

In total, the eleven Cabinet ministers claimed £7,187 for their gas and electricity bills in 2021-22, which increased to £12,620 for the first three-quarters of last year.

These claims are part of the entitlement for MPs, whose salaries rose to £91,346 this year, to receive funds for working from two locations if their constituency is outside London. They can claim costs for properties near Westminster, including council tax and utilities.

There is no evidence that any of the claims have broken rules.

A Labour spokesman previously stated: ‘The accommodation costs budget is to cover expenses incurred by MPs working from two permanent locations. MPs from all parties are entitled to this, and they continue to pay utility bills for their own homes like everyone else.’