State pensioners who've lost the £300 Winter Fuel Payment have been given a new update over the prospect of free bus passes being canned by the new Labour Party government too. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has shaken up Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) eligibility for the £300 Winter Fuel Allowance. Now, shadow transport secretary Helen Whately has written to Labour transport secretary Louise Haigh amid speculation free bus passes could be next.
But a spokesman for Labour has now told BirminghamLive that the ruling party has “no plans to withdraw” the scheme. The spokesman said: “We know how vital the free bus pass scheme is for preventing loneliness, providing access to vital services and keeping people connected to loved ones, and that’s why we have no plans to withdraw it.” READ MORE Martin Lewis issues update on Ofgem rule change which could cut bills by £100 In her letter to Ms Haigh, Ms Whately said: “Pensioners across the country remain hugely worried about how they will cope with the Government's recent cut to the winter fuel allowance.
If scrapping their bus passes is not in your plans, then to allow this speculation to continue is immensely cruel. "If, however, it is, then I implore you to reconsider. The vast majority of pensioners are not living the life of luxury you appear to think they are.
These cuts will heap further pain on top of losing a fuel allowance so many of them rely on. "It's not just the financial impact of these bus passes. For .