Rachel Reeves yesterday defended her choice to assert hundreds of kilos in bills to warmth her second residence whereas scrapping winter gas funds for pensioners.
Official figures present the Chancellor has claimed £3,700 over the past 5 years to pay the vitality payments at her constituency residence in Leeds.
She has confronted intense criticism for her choice to means-test the winter gas fee, which can see 10 million pensioners lose annual funds price as much as £300.
Ms Reeves, who earns £158,851, instructed GB Information: ‘I recognise that I earn greater than common households in Britain, however I am additionally decided on this place to guard probably the most susceptible, which is why the winter gas fee will proceed to be paid to pensioners on pension credit score.’
Official figures present the Chancellor has claimed £3,700 over the past 5 years to pay the vitality payments at her constituency residence in Leeds
She has confronted intense criticism for her choice to means-test the winter gas fee, which can see 10 million pensioners lose annual funds price as much as £300 (inventory)
Pressed on her personal bills claims, she added: ‘Effectively, being a constituency MP implies that it’s a must to have a home in London in addition to, after all, residing within the constituency, and that is the identical for all MPs.
‘These are lengthy standing guidelines. I’m decided to make sure that the poorest pensioners are protected and can nonetheless get winter gas funds, and certainly, to make sure that pension incomes proceed to extend with the triple lock.’
Simon Francis, of the Finish Gas Poverty Coalition, mentioned: ‘As MPs heat themselves at public expense, the truth for pensioners shall be very totally different this winter.
‘If Labour MPs are so eager to economize for the Treasury, perhaps they may look nearer to residence for financial savings slightly than taking from pensioners.’
