THE mayor of Colchester has said she will consider imposing a fine for councillors who “tear lumps out of each other” after the heated debate about winter fuel payments threatened to boil over at the town hall. In a motion put forward by Conservative leader Paul Dundas, it was requested council leader David King write to the chancellor to urge a review of the decision to means-test the winter fuel payment. In an impassioned speech, Labour councillor Tim Young proposed an amendment which would have referenced “failings of the previous Conservative government” as justification for Labour’s decision.
He said: “My advice is check the facts before you parrot a motion drawn up by lackeys in Tory central office. “And what a nerve to even mention the dilemma that pensioners face between heating and eating. “This is a phenomenon that has evolved over the last 14 years because of successive Tory governments taking money away from children, vulnerable residents and the elderly to fund tax cuts for the rich.
” He continued: “I say to every pensioner in Colchester: turn your heating on this winter, buy the food that you need, because a Labour government is here to look after you, backed up by our Labour MP.” When Tory councillors laughed at Mr Young’s speech, he retorted: “They don’t like it, because it’s true.” Conservative councillor Lewis Barber said Mr Young’s speech was “truly extraordinary”.
He said: “Pensioners can’t just simply turn on the .
